by Gary L. Evans
13 — In what year of King Asa’s reign did Baasha, King of Israel die?
Twenty-sixth year (1 Kings 15:33–16:8)
1Ki 15:33-16:8 In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat. Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him. Elah Reigns in Israel. In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
Dr. Bullinger in his Companion Bible states: “Began in the third year of Asa, therefore he died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa.”
Still alive in the thirty-sixth year (2 Chronicles 16:1)
2Ch 16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Dr. Bullinger in his Companion Bible states: Yet in the thirty-sixth year Baasha came and made war against Judah. And this would be nine or ten years after he was dead. So the word “reign” should be rendered “kingdom”, i.e. the thirty-sixth year from the kingdom of Israel.
Note that the ten northern tribes broke away from the two southern tribes after the death of Solomon. After that breach, the ten northern tribes were referred to as “Israel” and the two southern tribes were referred to as “Judah” in the Scriptures. So this reference of 36 years is since the Splitting of The Kingdom of Israel into two kingdoms.
The word “reign” is from the Hebrew word “mal-kooth’” which means “a rule; concretely a dominion” and the various English words it was translated to are “empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal.” Thus Dr. Bullinger simply states that the alternate meaning of the word, “kingdom”, fits the context the best.
And this fact is confirmed in the TSK Cross Reference: “From the rending of the ten tribes from Judah, over which Asa was now king.”
14 — How many overseers did Solomon appoint for the work of building the temple?
Three thousand six hundred (2 Chronicles 2:2)
2Ch 2:1-2 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
Three thousand three hundred (1 Kings 5:16)
1Ki 5:15-16 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
In the TSK Cross Reference we learn: In the parallel passage of Chronicles, it is “three thousand six hundred,” which is also the reading of the Septuagint here. 1Ki_9:23; 2Ch_2:2. So the correct reading here is three thousand six hundred.
15 — Solomon built a facility containing how many baths?
Two thousand (1 Kings 7:26)
1Ki 7:23-26 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about. And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast. It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
In the Companion Bible in Appendix 51, III, 3, 1 we find that the “bath” was a unit of liquid measure of about 6 gallons. So the “molten sea” was like a huge bowl, and at this time of writing it contained 2,000 X 6 = 12,000 gallons, and this was likely the amount it usually contained.
Over three thousand (2 Chronicles 4:5)
2Ch 4:5 And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.
Given that in 1 Kings 7:26 it states “it contained two thousand baths,” that was the amount that was usually in it. Here in 2 Chronicles it states that “it received and held three thousand baths.” So it’s maximum capacity was 3,000 X 6 = 18,000 gallons.
Introduction to Ezra and Nehemiah
Dr. Bullinger in his Companion Bible notes that Nehemiah’s account was written long before the account in Ezra. So their position in the Bible does not represent the actual chronology of their writing.
Neh 1:1-3 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
It is also important to note that there remained some in Judah that had escaped being taken into slavery by the King of Babylon. So the census of the major families returning to Jerusalem after being freed may differ some between Ezra’s count and Nehemiah’s count due to those returning gradually.
16 — Of the Israelites who were freed from the Babylonian captivity, how many were the children of Pahrath-Moab?
Two thousand eight hundred and twelve (Ezra 2:6)
Ezr 2:6 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Two thousand eight hundred and eighteen (Nehemiah 7:11)
Neh 7:11 The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
(See notes on Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 below.)
17 — How many were the children of Zattu?
Nine hundred and forty-five (Ezra 2:8)
Ezr 2:8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.
Eight hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:13)
Neh 7:13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
The Cyclopedia states the number was 945 OR 845: (Heb. Zattu’, זִתּוּא, pleasant; Septuagint Ζαθουιά v.r. Ζαθθουά, Ζατθουά, etc.; Latin Vulgate. Zethua, Zethu), an Israelite whose “sons” to the number of 945 (or 845) returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2, 8; Neh_7:13); and another company of them returned with Ezra, although his name has accidentally dropped out of the text in Ezr_8:5, as we learn from the Septuagint and the Apocryphal parallel (1Es_8:32), which both read “of the sons of Zathoe, Zechenias son of Aziel [orJezelus]” (Keil, Comment. ad loc.). B.C. ante 536. Several of these descendants renounced their Gentile wives (Ezr_10:27).
(See notes on Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 below.)
18 — How many were the children of Azgad?
One thousand two hundred and twenty-two (Ezra 2:12)
Ezr 2:12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.
Two thousand three hundred and twenty-two (Nehemiah 7:17)
Neh 7:17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states the number should read 1,222 OR 2,322: Az’gad. (strength of fortune). The children of Azgad, to the number of 1222, (2322 according to) Neh_7:17, were among the laymen who returned with Zerubbabel. Ezr_2:12; Ezr_8:12. With the other heads of the People, they joined in the covenant with Nehemiah. Neh_10:15. (B.C. 536).
(See notes on Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 below.)
19 — How many were the children of Adin?
Four hundred and fifty-four (Ezra 2:15)
Ezr 2:15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.
Six hundred and fifty-five (Nehemiah 7:20)
Neh 7:20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states the number was 454 OR 655: A’din. (dainty, delicate). Ancestor of a family who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel, to the number of 454, Ezr_2:15, or 655 according to the parallel list in Neh_7:20. (B.C. 536). They joined with Nehemiah in a covenant to separate themselves from the heathen. Neh_10:16. (B.C. 410).
(See notes on Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 below.)
20 — How many were the children of Hashum?
Two hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:19)
Ezr 2:19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.
Three hundred and twenty-eight (Nehemiah 7:22)
Neh 7:22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states the number should read 223: Bene-Hashum, (that is, sons of Hashum), 223 in number, came back from Babylon with Zerubbabel. Ezr_2:19; Ezr_10:33; Neh_7:22. (B.C. Before 536). The chief man of the family was among these, who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. Neh_10:18. (B.C. 410).
21 — How many were the children of Bethel and Ai?
Two hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:28)
Ezr 2:28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.
One hundred and twenty-three (Nehemiah 7:32)
Neh 7:32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
(See notes on Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 below.)
22 — Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 agree that the total number of the whole assembly was 42,360. Yet the numbers do not add up to anything close. The totals obtained from each book is as follows:
29,818 (Ezra 2:64)
Ezr 2:64-65 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
The TSK Cross Reference states: Though the sum total, both here and in Nehemiah, is equal, namely, 42,360, yet the particulars reckoned up only make 29,818 in Ezra, and 31,089 in Nehemiah; and we find that Nehemiah mentions 1,765 persons who are not in Ezra, and Ezra has 494 not mentioned in Nehemiah. This last circumstance, which seems to render all hope of reconciling them impossible, Mr. Alting thinks is the very point by which they can be reconciled; for, if we add Ezra’s surplus to the sum in Nehemiah, and Nehemiah’s surplus to the number in Ezra, they will both amount to 31,583; which subtracted from 42,360, leaves a deficiency of 10,777, which are not named because they did not belong to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, or to the priests, but to the other Israelitish tribes. Ezr_9:8; Neh_7:66-69; Isa_10:20-22; Jer_23:3
31,089 (Nehemiah 7:66)
Neh 7:66-67 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
23 — How many singers accompanied the assembly?
Two hundred (Ezra 2:65)
Ezr 2:65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
Two hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:67)
Neh 7:67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
(See notes on Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 above.)
24 — What was the name of King Abijah’s mother?
Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah (2 Chronicles 13:2)
2Ch 13:1-2 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
Maachah, daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20)
2Ch 11:18-20 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
The phrase “Maachah the daughter of Absalom” is more probably “granddaughter.”
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Maachah: The daughter, or more probably granddaughter, of Absalom named after his mother; the third and favorite wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijah. 1Ki_15:22; 2Ch_11:20-22. The mother of Abijah is elsewhere called “Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.” 2Ch_13:2. During the reign of her grandson, Asa, she occupied at the court of Judah, the high position of “king’s mother,” compare 1Ki_15:13, but when he came of age, she was removed because of her idolatrous habits. 2Ch_15:16.”
Absalom’s mother was “Maachah”. So Tamar named her daughter “Maachah” after her grandmother.
2Sa 3:2-3 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
But Absalom had only one daughter whose name was Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27)
2Sa 14:27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states about Tamar: “Daughter of Absalom, 2Sa_14:7, became, by her marriage with Uriah, of Gibeah, the mother of Maachah, the future queen of Judah.“
So Absalom’s daughter Tamar married Uriah and bear Maachah who married Jeroboam and was the mother of Abijah.
25 — Did Joshua and the Israelites capture Jerusalem?
Yes (Joshua 10:23,40)
Jos 10:23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
Jos 10:40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
Joshua defeated all of the kings mentioned and killed them. But these verses do not declare that Joshua “captured” Jerusalem.
No (Joshua 15:63)
Jos 15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
The Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Jebus, which is Jerusalem,” lost its king, in the slaughter of Beth-horon, Jos_10:1; Jos_10:5; Jos_10:26, compare Jos_12:10, was sacked and burned by the men of Judah, Jdg_1:21, and its citadel finally scaled, and occupied by David. 2Sa_5:6.
So it was King David that finally “captured” Jerusalem.
26 — Who was the father of Joseph, husband of Mary?
Jacob (Matthew 1:16)
Mat 1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Heli (Luke 3:23)
Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
Matthew presents the lineage of Joseph, the step father of Jesus. But Luke presents the lineage of Mary, The Lord’s mother. Note the phrase “as was supposed” which shows that Mary’s lineage was also legal in including it in our Lord’s flesh lineage, just as is our custom today. Our mother’s father is called our grandfather just as a father’s father is called our grandfather.
The TSK Cross Reference presents this explanation: The real father of Joseph was Jacob (Mat_1:16); but having married the daughter of Heli, and being perhaps adopted by him, he was called his son, and as such was entered in the public registers; Mary not being mentioned, because the Hebrews never permitted the name of a woman to enter the genealogical tables, but inserted her husband as the son of him who was, in reality, but his father-in-law. Hence it appears that Matthew, who wrote principally for the Jews, traces the pedigree of Jesus Christ from Abraham, through whom the promises were given to the Jews, to David, and from David, through the line of Solomon, to Jacob the father of Joseph, the reputed or legal father of Christ; and that Luke, who wrote for the Gentiles, extends his genealogy upwards from Heli, the father of Mary, through the line of Nathan, to David, and from David to Abraham, and from Abraham to Adam, who was the immediate “son of God” by creation, and to whom the promise of the Saviour was given in behalf of himself and all his posterity. The two branches of descent from David, by Solomon and Nathan, being thus united in the persons of Mary and Joseph, Jesus the son of Mary re-united in himself all the blood, privileges, and rights, of the whole family of David; in consequence of which he is emphatically called “the Son of David.”
27 — Jesus descended from which son of David?
Solomon (Matthew 1:6)
Mat 1:7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
Solomon is an ancestor of Joseph. Matthew presents the lineage of Joseph, who was not the father of Jesus. God Most High was the Father of Jesus.
Nathan (Luke 3:31)
Luk 3:31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
Nathan was Mary’s ancestor making her half of the tribe of Judah. Note Mary’s cousin Elisabeth was married to a Levitical priest showing that she was a full blood Levite, since a Priest could only marry a Levite to keep the bloodline pure. Thus Mary was also half of the tribe of Levi through her mother.
28 — Who was the father of Shealtiel?
Jechoniah (Matthew 1:12)
Mat 1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
Jechonias is also called Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim. Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.
This is the genealogy of Joseph, husband of Mary.
Neri’ (Luke 3:27)
Luk 3:27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
This was in Mary’s genealogy through her father Heli, and it states that Neri was the father of Salathiel. So this “Zorobabel” and “Salathiel” appear to be of a different family tree than the one of “Zorobabel” and “Salathiel” in Matthew.
Smith’s Bible Dictionary states: “Ne’ri. Short form for Neriah. (Jehovah is my lamp). Son of Melchi, and father of Salathiel, in the genealogy of Christ. See Neriah.”
Smith then states: “Neri’ah. (lamp of Jehovah). The son of Maaseiah, and father of Baruch and Seraiah.”
The Cyclopedia states: “Maaseiah: The “governor of the city,” one of those sent by king Josiah to repair the Temple (2Ch_34:8). B.C. 623. The date and rank render it not improbable that he was the Maaseiah (Heb. Machseyah’, מִחְֵֹסיָה, whose refuge is Jehovah; Septuagint Μαασααίς v.r. Μασσααίς, etc.), the father of Neriah, and grandfather of Baruch and Seraiah, which latter were two persons of note to whom Jeremiah had recourse in his divine communications (Jer_32:12; Jer_51:59): and in that case he is likewise probably identical with MELCHI, the son of Addi, and father of Neri, in Christ’s maternal genealogy (Luk_3:28).”
Luk 3:28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
This is the genealogy of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The conclusion is that there appears to be two men called “Salathiel” and thus two answers to this question, one in Joseph’s lineage and another in Mary’s.
29 — Which son of Zerubbabel was an ancestor of Jesus Christ?
Abiud (Matthew 1: 13)
Mat 1:13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
This “Zorobabel” was of the lineage of Solomon.
This was in Joseph’s genealogy, the stepfather of Jesus.
Rhesa (Luke 3:27) but the seven sons of Zerubbabel are as follows: i. Meshullam, ii. Hananiah, iii. Hashubah, iv. Ohel, v. Berechiah, vi. Hasadiah, viii. Jushabhesed (1 Chronicles 3:19-20). The names Abiud and Rhesa do not fit in anyway.
Luk 3:27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
This “Zorobabel” was of the lineage of Nathan.
This was in Mary’s genealogy, the mother of Jesus.