Christian reading

Can there be mistakes in the Holy Scriptures? (ending)

There are also contradictions in Ezra and Nehemiah:

1a. «Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city… The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five [775]» (Ezra 2:1, 5).

1b. «These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city… The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two [652]» (Neh 7:6, 10).

2a. «The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve [2812]» (Ezra 2:6).

2b. «The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen [2818]» (Neh 7:11).

3a. «The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five [945]» (Ezra 2:8).

3b. «The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five [845]» (Neh 7:13).

4a. «The children of Bani [sic], six hundred forty and two [642]» (Ezra 2:10).

4b. «The children of Binnui [sic], six hundred forty and eight [648]» (Neh 7:15).

5a. «The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three [623]» (Ezra 2:11).

5b. «The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight [628]» (Neh 7:16).

6a. «The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two [1222]» (Ezra 2:12).

6b. «The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two [2322]» (Neh 7:17).

7a. «The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six [666]» (Ezra 2:13).

7b. «The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven [667]» (Neh 7:18).

8a. «The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six [2056]» (Ezra 2:14).

8b. «The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven [2067]» (Neh 7:19).

9a. «The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four [454]» (Ezra 2:15).

9b. «The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five [655]» (Neh 7:20).

10a. «The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three [323]» (Ezra 2:17).

10b. «The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four [324]» (Neh 7:23).

11a. «The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three [223]» (Ezra 2:19).

11b. «The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight [328]» (Neh 7:22).

12a. «The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three [123]. The men of Netophah, fifty and six [56]» (Ezra 2:21-22).

12b. «The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight [188]» (Neh 7:26).

13a. «The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three [223]» (Ezra 2:28).

13b. «The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three [123]» (Neh 7:32).

14a. «The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five [725]» (Ezra 2:33).

14b. «The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one [721]» (Neh 7:37).

15a. «The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty [3630]» (Ezra 2:35).

15b. «The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty [3930]» (Neh 7:38).

16a. «The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight [128]» (Ezra 2:41).

16b. «The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight [148]» (Neh 7:44).

17a. «The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine [139]» (Ezra 2:42).

17b. «The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight [138]» (Neh 7:45).

18a. «The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two [652]» (Ezra 2:60).

18b. «The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two [642]» (Neh 7:62).

19a. «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 [200] singing men and singing women» (Ezra 2:64-65).

19b. «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 [245] singing men and singing women» (Neh 7:66-67).

If you add up all the numbers of the Jews who returned from Babylon in Ezra 2 and Neh 7 (half of which contradict each other), the sum will not be 42360 people. According Ezra, the number is 29818; and according to Nehemiah, it is 31089. It must also be added that Neh 7 does not mention the sons of Magbish (compare to Ezra 2:30).

(to be continued)