by Gary L. Evans
This list of 101 Contradictions of the Bible was arbitrarily taken from the internet. I’ve debunked various attempts to show that the Bible is not true because it contradicts itself. But the truth is that the seeming contradictions in the Bible are always the result of human error, for examples, of translation errors from the original Hebrew or Greek manuscripts into English, or from differences from one related reference to another due to the translator’s various choices of English words that could be used. Although rare, occasionally some errors have occurred by copyist error. The Scriptures were hand written on papyrus scrolls, and had to be hand copied by scribes, letter by letter, line by line, page by page, for each book.
The King James Version of the Bible was produced by the dedicated work of 70 translators, who worked on their assigned set of books. The word choices one translator made in his books was often different from how another translator decided to use in his books. Also many Hebrew names mentioned in The New Testament are in Greecized form, having been translated into Greek words and their pronunciation often the transliteration of the Greek Letters of those words. So references to people and places by name in The Old Testament are usually different in their spelling and pronunciation in The New Testament.
For example the Hebrew word “ash-maw'” means “guiltiness, a fault, or the presentation of a sin offering.” And it has been translated to “offend, sin, (cause of) trespass (-ing, offering).” So in one reference it is translated to “offend” but in another it is “sin” and in another it is “trespass”. This fact does not present us with any “contradiction”, but simply the reasonable choice in translating the Hebrew or Greek into English. The translator’s task is to select the most appropriate translation in the given context.
To overcome these and other issues, The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is invaluable to Bible Students because it effectively provides students with their own access to the original manuscripts and a search facility to find all occurrences of any keyword(s). And The Smith’s Bible Dictionary is very helpful for researching the meanings and histories of proper Names of people and places. The Companion Bible is also a must have Study Bible. Dr. Bullinger produced 198 appendices that provide knowledge of languages and history in The Bible. Some other reference books are also helpful. The E-Sword PC Bible Study system allows much faster progress in Bible Study, because it is interactive with these various tools in one computer application. One thing I’ve found is that general commentary is often misleading, because its trustworthiness is solely dependent on the expertise and full understanding of the commenter. So I recommend being very skeptical of commentary. Focus on facts and be a Bible Scholar. With that said, fact oriented commentary such as E.W, Bullinger’s Side Notes from The Companion Bible are an excellent resource, and also the TSK Cross Reference.
These lessons will be a demonstration of how students can learn to debunk false accusations against The Holy Scriptures, at least for your own peace of mind and ability to help others. Debunking this list will require the use of various tools of scholarship. Keep in mind though that some questions just cannot be answered, because if The Bible contained all knowledge, it would be larger than the universe.
1 — Who incited David to count the fighting men of Israel?
God did (2 Samuel 24: 1)
2Sa 24:1-3 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
Joab did not approve of numbering their armies, because God fought their battles and gave them the victory over their enemies, not armies. Taking a census was showing a lack of faith in God.
Satan did (1 Chronicles 21:1)
1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
This verse simply provides us with more information than that given in 2 Samuel. Specifically we learn that The Lord used Satan to cause David to sin. Satan is The Destroyer. And since David was the king his sins caused his whole kingdom to be punished until he repented.
Exo 30:11-14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.
The Lord said what must be done in order to take a census. Any transgression of these requirements in The Law was sin.
2 — In that count how many fighting men were found in Israel? 3 — How many fighting men were found in Judah?
Israel: Eight hundred thousand: Judah: Five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9)
2Sa 24:9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
Israel: One million, one hundred thousand; Judah: Four hundred and seventy thousand (1 Chronicles 21:5)
1Ch 21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
This appears to be a translation error in 1 Chronicles 21:5. The TSK Cross Reference states that the Syriac has 800,000 as in the parallel passage of Samuel. 1Ch_27:23; 2Sa_24:9.
1Ch 27:23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.
So given these corrections, there is no significant difference.
4 — God sent his prophet to threaten David with how many years of famine?
Seven (2 Samuel 24:13)
2Sa 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
Three (1 Chronicles 21:12)
1Ch 21:12 Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
The TSK Cross Reference explains how the English translator made an error in 2 Samuel 24:13, because it also had three years’ famine in the Hebrew text. In 2Sa_24:13, it is seven years; but the Greek Septuagint has there τρια ετη [G5140], three years, as here; which is, no doubt, the true reading; the letter ז, zayin, seven, being mistaken for ג, gimmel, three.
5 — How old was Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
Twenty-two (2 Kings 8:26)
2Ki 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
Forty-two (2 Chronicles 22:2)
2Ch 22:2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
The TSK Cross Reference states: in the parallel passage (see note on 2Ki_8:26) he is said to be only twenty-two; and this is doubtless the true reading, as it is supported here by several manuscripts and versions.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states about Ahaziah this explanation: He was 22 years old at his accession; 2Ki_8:26; (his age 42, in 2Ch_22:2, is a copyist’s error).
6 — How old was Jehoiachin when he became king of Jerusalem?
Eighteen (2 Kings 24:8)
2Ki 24:8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
The TSK Cross Reference states: In the parallel place, he is said to be only eight years old; but this must be a mistake, for we find that having reigned only three months, he was carried captive to Babylon, and there had wives; and had he been of such a tender age, it could scarcely have been said that, as a king, “he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.” 2Ch_36:9
Eight (2 Chronicles 36:9)
2Ch 36:9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
The TSK Cross Reference states: The Syriac, Arabic, and the parallel place (see note on 2Ki_24:8), have “eighteen years;” which, as Scaliger observes, is no doubt the genuine reading.
7 — How long did he rule over Jerusalem?
Three months (2 Kings 24:8)
2Ki 24:8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, reigned for three months and ten days, king of Judah. (B.C. 597). At his accession, Jerusalem was quite defenseless, and unable to offer any resistance to the army, which Nebuchadnezzar sent to besiege it. 2Ki_24:10-11.
2Ki 24:10-11 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
Three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9)
2Ch 36:9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
2 Chronicles simply provides a little more detail about the length of his reign than in 2 Kings, which we find is often the case when researching multiple references on the same subject. This fact is certainly not a contradiction.
8 — The chief of the mighty men of David lifted up his spear and killed how many men at one time?
Eight hundred (2 Samuel 23:8)
2Sa 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
This man is called “Adino the Eznite” who was a “Tachmonite” and is said to have slain eight hundred. Note that the phrase “he lift up his spear” is in italics in the King James to indicate that it is not in the text but was added for clarity.
Verse 23:8 in the King James Combined with Strong’s Word Numbers for easy dictionary reference. Note the phrase “he lift up his spear” is in italics showing it was added by the translators and is not actually in the Hebrew text.
2Sa 23:8 These H428 be the names H8034 of the mighty men H1368 whom H834 David H1732 had: The Tachmonite H8461 that sat H3427 in the seat, H7675 chief H7218 among the captains; H7991 the same H1931 was Adino H5722 the Eznite: H6112 he lift up his spear against H5921 eight H8083 hundred, H3967 whom he slew H2491 at one H259 time. H6471
The TSK Cross Reference provides this explanation: am 2949-2989, B.C. 1055-1015, An, Ex, Is, 436-476, The Tachmonite. or, Josheb-bassebet, the Tachmonite, head of the three. 1Ch_11:11-12, 1Ch_27:2, 1Ch_27:32; It is highly probable that in this version instead of yoshaiv bashshaiveth tachkemoni, we should read yoshavam ben chachmoni, “Joshebeam, son of Hachmoni;’ and instead of hoo adino haetzni, hoo orair eth chanitho, “he lift up his spear,” which are the readings in the parallel place in Chronicles, where it is also, “three hundred,” instead of “eight hundred.”
Note that the phrase “he lift up his spear” is in the Hebrew text in 1Ch 11:11.
1Ch 11:11 And this H428 is the number H4557 of the mighty men H1368 whom H834 David H1732 had; Jashobeam, H3434 an Hachmonite, H1121 H2453 the chief H7218 of the captains: H7991 he H1931 lifted up H5782 (H853) his spear H2595 against H5921 three H7969 hundred H3967 slain H2491 by him at one H259 time H6471
So that phrase is a direct translation here.
Three hundred (1 Chronicles 11: 11)
1Ch 11:11-12 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
This man is called “Jashobeam, an Hachmonite” and is said to have slain three hundred. It may be that these were two different men who were of the “three mighties” being discussed in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, or as suggested in the TSK Cross Reference the correct number should be 300.
The name Jashobeam is also referenced later:
1Ch 27:2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
9 — When did David bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Before defeating the Philistines or after?
After (2 Samuel 5 and 6)
David led the Israelites in the first battle to defend Jerusalem, The City of David.
2Sa 5:17-21 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
David led the Israelites in the second battle to defend Jerusalem which defeated the Philistines.
2Sa 5:22-25 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
David brings The Ark of The Covenant to Jerusalem.
2Sa 6:11-15 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
Before (1 Chronicles 13 and 14)
David desired to bring The Ark to Jerusalem but failed in his first attempt because he did not follow The Lord’s instructions on how to carry The Ark.
1Ch 13:10-14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.
Note the verse “So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David.” Therefore he did not do that BEFORE defeating the Philistines.
David led the Israelites in the first battle to defend Jerusalem, The City of David.
1Ch 14:10-12 And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand. So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim. And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
David led the Israelites in the second battle to defend Jerusalem which defeated the Philistines.
1Ch 14:13-17 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
David brings The Ark of The Covenant to Jerusalem using The Lord’s required procedures on how to carry it..
1Ch 15:1-4 And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
1Ch 15:14-16 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
1Ch 15:25-29 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.
These passages in Samuel and Chronicles are describing the same events, Israel’s Defeat of The Philistines who attacked Jerusalem after David founded the city, and how AFTERWARD David brought The Ark of The Covenant to Jerusalem. Both accounts present the same sequence. Chronicles just provides us with much more detail about these events than in Samuel.
10 — How many pairs of clean animals did God tell Noah to take into the Ark?
Two (Genesis 6:19-20)
Gen 6:19-20 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
One pair of every (unclean) animal and fowl, male and female, was to be taken into the ark. This was to preserve life on the earth after the flood.
Seven (Genesis 7:2)
Gen 7:2-3 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
But The Lord commanded that seven of every clean animal and fowl be taken, which would be three pairs of males and females and one extra male for sacrifice in offering to The Lord after they had been saved from the flood. Note that clean animals included farm animals which would be needed as their initial stocks to begin building herds.
But despite this last instruction only two pairs went into the ark (Genesis 7:8-9)
Gen 7:7-9 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
The animals went in by pairs, male and female, the clean and unclean. Note also that they went in “as God had commanded Noah.” Recall that The Lord had commanded Noah to bring in seven of every clean animal and bird, three pairs of males and females and one extra male, and this passage does not change the commandment given to Noah.
11 — When David defeated the King of Zobah, how many horsemen did he capture?
One thousand and seven hundred (2 Samuel 8:4)
2Sa 8:3-4 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
The passage clearly states that David “took one thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen.” The number 1,700 is not mentioned.
Seven thousand (1 Chronicles 18:4)
1Ch 18:3-4 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.
Dr. Bullinger in his Companion Bible states: this should read “seven hundred” as stated in Samuel.
12 — How many stalls for horses did Solomon have?
Forty thousand (1 Kings 4:26)
1Ki 4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Dr. Bullinger in his Companion Bible states that this should read “four thousand” as in 2 Chronicles 9:25.
Four thousand (2 chronicles 9:25)
2Ch 9:25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.