Sunday, September 1, 2013

How many men did the chief of David's captains kill? BibViz Project Contradiction #1

2 Samuel 23:8 and 1 Chronicles 11:11 are put against each other because 2 Samuel says that  Jashobeam, David's chief captain killed 800 men with his spear at one time but 1 Chronicles says he killed 300 men. The Skeptic's Annotated Bible does not think that Christians have responded to this. They should have looked harder. Jay Smith and others wrote a website that answers 101 Contradictions in the Bible Muslims bring up. On their site they point out:

It is quite possible that both authors may have described two different incidents, though by the same man, or one author may have only mentioned in part what the other author mentions in full.

Concluding that there is a contradiction or one of the authors is wrong there is unwarranted. Neither author says that they are talking about the same event although they are talking about the same man.

How many men did the chief of David's captains kill?

BibViz Project - Bible Contradictions, Misogyny, Violence, Inaccuracies - Intro Post

This is an introductory post to a new series of articles I'm going to be publishing that will address 466 proposed contradictions in the Bible that are visualized in an interactive website - the BibViz Project. It is based on a visualization of Bible contradictions by Chris Harrison, which I have blogged about before. The difference here is that instead of just drawing lines, each line is a hyperlink to the the Skeptic's Annotated Bible. I will be using the following list as my guide. These are not contradictions and can easily be reconciled. Here is a quote from Bibviz.

Many of the contradictions above stem from a literal interpretation of the stories in the Bible. Some verses may be mistranslations, allegories, exaggerations, etc and can be interpreted in the context of the society in which they were written, rewritten, or otherwise modified over time. Considering that 46% of Americans believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis (and probably other portions of the Bible) and the fact that many sects disagree on which parts to take literally, it seems reasonable to include these contradictions based on literal interpretation.

The creators of the site seem to think that just because people cannot agree on what to take literally and what not  to take literally is itself a contradiction against the Bible. Mistaken interpretation does not mean a contradiction if a passage was not meant to be taken literally. The KJV is 500 years old and not based on the best manuscripts and evidence that we now have access too, so to include such mistranslations" and misunderstanding due to ignorance of culture, language,  and the audience to which the texts are written is extremely dishonest.

1 How many men did the chief of David's captains kill? 2 Was Abraham justified by faith or works? 3 How many sons did Abraham have?
4 Was Abiathar the father or the son of Ahimelech? 5 Who was Abijam's mother? 6 How were Abijam and Asa related? 7 How long was the ark of the covenant at Abinadab's house?
8 How old was Abram when Ishmael was born? 9 How many sons did Absalom have? How many sons did Absalom have? 10 When did Absalom rebel against David? 11 The two contradictory creation accounts.
12 Who Was Achan's father? 13 How many of Adin's offspring returned from Babylon? 14 How many of Adonikam's offspring returned from Babylon? 15 How should adulterers be punished?
16 Is it wrong to have sex outside of marriage? 17 Was Haman an Agagite? 18 Was Ahaz buried with his fathers? 19 When did Ahaziah begin to reign?
20 How old was Ahaziah when he began to reign? 21 Did the city of Ai exist after Joshua destroyed it? 22 What tribe was Aijalon from? 23 Does God want some to go to hell?
24 Did Jesus tell his disciples everything? 25 Was David alone when asking for the holy bread at Nob? 26 Did Saul and Samuel kill all the Amalekites? 27 Who was Amasa's father?
28 How should the Ammonites be treated? 29 Who was Anah? 30 Who drove the Anakim from Hebron? 31 From what were the animals created?
32 Where did Jesus first appear to the eleven disciples after the resurrection? 33 How many of Arah's offspring returned from Babylon? 34 What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 35 Was Asa perfect?
36 Did Asa remove the high places? 37 How many of Asaph's offspring returned from Babylon? 38 When did Jesus ascend into heaven? 39 Did Peter ask Jesus where he was going?
40 On what did Jesus ride into Jerusalem? 41 Is the day of the Lord at hand? 42 How many of Azgad's offspring returned from Babylon? 43 When did Baasha die?
44 How many languages were there before the Tower of Babel was built? 45 How long was the Babylonian Captivity? 46 How many of Bani's offspring returned from Babylon? 47 In whose name is baptism to be performed?
48 Did Jesus baptize anyone? 49 Did Jesus tell his apostles to go barefoot and without a staff? 50 Who was to blame for original sin? 51 Who was Bashemath's father?
52 What was the volume of the molten sea in Solomon's temple? 53 How many of Bebai's offspring returned from Babylon? 54 When did Saul become David's enemy? 55 Who named Beersheba?
56 Where did Joseph and Mary live before the birth of Jesus? 57 Should we believe everything? 58 How many believers were there at the time of the ascension? 59 How old was Benjamin when his clan migrated to Egypt?
60 Who were the sons of Benjamin? 61 Were Naaman and Ard the sons or the grandsons of Benjamin? 62 Who asked for the best seats in heaven? 63 When did Jacob rename Luz to Bethel?
64 How many of Bethlehem and Netophah's offspring returned from Babylon? 65 Where did Jesus cure the blind man? 66 How many of Bezai's offspring returned from Babylon? 67 How many of Bigvai's offspring returned from Babylon?
68 Who is the most blessed woman? 69 Who makes people deaf and blind? 70 How many blind men were healed near Jericho? 71 Does the blood of animal sacrifices take away sin?
72 Should we bear each other's burdens? 73 Who buried Jesus? 74 On what day did the temple burn? 75 Did God command the Israelites to make him burnt offerings?
76 Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush? 77 What became of Cain? 78 Was Jesus taken to Caiaphas or Annas first? 79 Will those who call on the Lord be delivered?
80 Can God do anything? 81 How long was the Egyptian Captivity? 82 Does God prefer castrated men? 83 Is casting out devils a sign of a true Christian?
84 Did God kill all the Egyptian cattle in the sixth plague? 85 Is it OK to take a census?? 86 Did the Centurion ask Jesus directly to help his slave? 87 What did the Centurion call Jesus when he died?
88 How high was the chapiter? 89 How many men did David kill? 90 Is childbearing sinful? 91 Is it a a good thing to be childish?
92 How did Jesus respond when questioned by the high priest? 93 Is circumcision required? 94 To whom were the cities of Exhtaol and Zoreah given? 95 Did the cock crow before or after Peter's denial?
96 What color was Jesus' robe? 97 Did Jesus forewarn the apostles of his death and resurrection? 98 Is God the author of confusion? 99 Is it OK to covet?
100 Did Jesus say before the cock crow or before the cock crows twice? 101 Did Jesus ask God to save him from crucifixion? 102 Is it OK to curse people? 103 Will God curse the earth?
104 Are those who obey the law cursed? 105 When did the Temple curtain rip? 106 Who carried Jesus' cross? 107 When was the city of Dan named?
108 Generations from David to the Babylonian Captivity 109 How did David kill Goliath? 110 The sons of David born in Hebron 111 Did David sin?
112 Which sons of David were born in Jerusalem? 113 From which of David's sons was Jesus descended? 114 When did the women (or woman) arrive at the sepulchre? 115 Is death final?
116 How many of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda's offspring returned from Babylon? 117 To whom did Peter deny knowing Jesus? 118 Who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? 119 Can the devil capture us at will?
120 Is the devil tied up or free to roam? 121 Who can cast out devils in the name of Jesus? 122 Where did the devils ask not to go? 123 Does God desire animal sacrifices?
124 Must everyone die? 125 Should believers discuss their faith with non-believers? 126 Is divorce ever permissible? 127 Does anyone ever do anything good?
128 Who put the robe on Jesus? 129 Did Jesus drink on the cross? 130 When did the earth dry after the flood? 131 Does God dwell in darkness or in light?
132 Will the earth last forever? 133 What kind of animals may we eat? 134 How should the Edomites be treated? 135 May a eunuch enter into the congregation of the Lord?
136 Did Lot's daughters think God had killed every man except Lot? 137 Does the gospel of Luke contain everything that Jesus did? 138 Did Jesus, Mary, and Joseph go to Egypt or Nazareth? 139 How many disciples did Jesus appear to in his first post resurrection appearance?
140 Did the eleven disciples believe the two men? 141 Whom did Elhanan kill? 142 Was John the Baptist Elijah? 143 When will the end of the world come?
144 How should we treat our enemies? 145 Has anyone ever ascended into heaven? 146 Did Enoch die? 147 Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam?
148 Will Ephraim return to Egypt? 149 When was Eve created? 150 Is everyone descended from Adam and Eve? 151 Is God the creator of evil?
152 Do evildoers prosper? 153 Did Moses see God face to face? 154 Is Salvation by faith alone? 155 Were the men with Paul knocked to the ground?
156 Is it possible to fall from grace? 157 How many years of famine? 158 Is it OK to call your father (or anyone else) father? 159 Did Moses fear the king?
160 Should we look for signs in the heavens? 161 Should we fear God? 162 Who bought the potter's field? 163 When did the cursed fig tree die?
164 When did Jesus curse the fig tree? 165 Was Jesus the first to rise from the dead? 166 To whom did Jesus make his first post-resurrection appearance? 167 How long was the ark afloat?
168 How long did the flood last? 169 Did everyone (except for Noah and his family) die in the flood? 170 Will the righteous flourish? 171 Which flying creeping things may we eat?
172 Is it OK to call someone a fool? 173 Is it good to be foolish? 174 Who forces non-believers to disbelieve? 175 How many Philistine foreskins did David buy his first wife with?
176 Does God forgive sins? 177 How many generations from Jesus to Abraham? 178 Can God be found? 179 From what were the fowls created?
180 Do humans have free will? 181 Were the disciples frightened or gladdened when they saw Jesus? 182 Does God ever get furious? 183 Who gave the law to Moses?
184 Did God give Gehazi leprosy? 185 Genealogy of Jesus 186 Genealogy of Jesus 187 When was the Holy Ghost given?
188 Does God lie? 189 Does God love everyone? 190 Does God know what is in everyone's heart? 191 How many gods are there?
192 Are we all God's children? 193 Does God work on the Sabbath? 194 How much gold, silver, and clothing did the people give? 195 Who killed Goliath?
196 Is anyone good? 197 Who was the greatest: Jesus, Solomon, or John the Baptist? 198 Is it OK for men to have long hair? 199 Who was Noah's youngest son?
200 Is it good to be happy? 201 Was Mary Magdalen happy or sad when she saw the risen Jesus? 202 Who hardened the Pharaoh's heart? 203 Should we follow our own hearts?
204 When was heaven created? 205 Does Hell exist? 206 Does God help in times of need? 207 Who was Heman's father?
208 Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist? 209 Where did Joseph's brothers find the hidden money? 210 How many talents of gold did Hiram send Solomon? 211 Is only God holy?
212 Who sent the Holy Ghost? 213 How should homosexuals be treated? 214 Where did Aaron die? 215 How many horsemen did David take?
216 When (at what time of day) was Jesus crucified? 217 Does God approve of human sacrifice? 218 Were humans created before or after the other animals? 219 If a husband believes, is his wife saved also?
220 Which tribe was Hyram from? 221 Was Zechariah Iddo's son or grandson? 222 Is it OK to make images? 223 Which came first: the calling of Peter and Andrew or the imprisonment of John the Baptist?
224 Is incest forbidden? 225 Are we punished for the sins of others? 226 Did Saul inquire of the Lord? 227 Were the men or angels inside or outside the tomb when the women arrived?
228 Will God destroy those that intermarry? 229 Can God stop iron chariots? 230 How old was Ishmael when he was abandoned by Abraham? 231 When was King Jabin killed?
232 Who bought the sepulcher in Shechem from the sons of Hamor? 233 Where was Jacob buried? 234 How many were in Jacob's family when they came into Egypt? 235 Was Jairus' daughter alive when Jesus was approached?
236 Did Jeconiah have any sons? 237 Was Jeconiah the son or grandson of Josiah? 238 When did Jehoash become king of Israel? 239 How long did Jehoash reign?
240 How old was Jehoachin when he began to reign? 241 Who succeeded Jehoiakim as king? 242 Did Jehoiakim die in Babylon or near Jerusalem? 243 Did Jehoshaphat remove the high places?
244 Did Abraham know God's name? 245 Was Jehu the son or grandson of Nimshi? 246 When was the blind man (or men) healed? 247 Did Paul go to Jerusalem from Damascus immediately after his conversion?
248 How many sons did Jesse have? 249 When was Jesus born? 250 Was Joseph the father of Jesus? 251 Did Jesus know everything?
252 Did Jesus bear witness of himself? 253 What will happen to Jews when they die? 254 Will there be many Jews? 255 What was Jesus H. Christ's real name?
256 Did God commend or condemn Jehu for the killings at Jezreel? 257 Where was Joash buried? 258 Who brought evil on Job? 259 Who cast Jonah into the sea?
260 Who was Jesus' paternal grandfather? 261 Where did Josiah die? 262 How did King Josiah die? 263 How long did Jotham reign?
264 How did Judas die? 265 Did Judas identify Jesus with a kiss? 266 To judge or not to judge. 267 Does Jesus judge people?
268 Has there ever been a just person? 269 Is anyone justified? 270 Was Keturah Abraham's wife or concubine? 271 To kill or not to kill.
272 Why did God reject Saul as king? 273 Who was the father of Kish? 274 Does God know and see everything? 275 Who was Korah's father?
276 Did God bury alive all of Korah's children? 277 Who was Laban's father? 278 What were the last words of Jesus? 279 Should we obey human or divine law?
280 Is it wrong to lie? 281 What is the human lifespan? 282 How many of Lod, Hadid, and Ono's offspring returned from Babylon? 283 Has the sun ever stood still in the sky for 24 hours?
284 Who is the Lord of this world? 285 Was Lot righteous? 286 Should we love or hate others? 287 Was Mahli the son of Levi?
288 Will everyone see the majesty of God? 289 Was David a man of war before he fought Goliath? 290 Did Elisha receive Elijah's mantle before or after Elijah is taken up into heaven? 291 Is marriage a good thing?
292 Should Christians be concerned with material things? 293 Is it OK to eat meat sacrificed to other gods? 294 Was Moses meek? 295 Is God merciful?
296 How many children did Michal have? 297 Did the Israelites kill every male in Midian? 298 How many did God kill for "committing whoredom with the daughters of Moab"? 299 How should the Moabites be treated?
300 Did any Moabite enter the congregation of the Lord? 301 Is money good or bad? 302 Was Moses in good mental and physical health at age 120? 303 Who was Moses' father-in-law?
304 Was Moses a good speaker? 305 Did Jesus preach his first sermon on a mountain or a plain? 306 What is God's name? 307 What's new?
308 What is the correct recipe for the new moon sacrifice? 309 If God likes you, will everyone else like you too? 310 When did Noah enter the ark? 311 How should nonbelievers be treated?
312 Is it OK to take oaths? 313 Are those who believe that Jesus is the Christ "of God"? 314 How many officers did Solomon have? 315 How old was Abraham when he left Haran?
316 Was the tomb opened or closed when the women arrived? 317 Are the laws of the Old Testament still binding? 318 How many overseers did Solomon have? 319 Who owns the earth?
320 How many of Pahathmoab, Jeshua, and Joab's offspring returned from Babylon? 321 How should parents be treated? 322 How many days is unleavened bread to be eaten during the passover? 323 When was Jesus crucified?
324 Did Paul see Jesus on the road to Damascus? 325 Did Paul visit all of the disciples when he went to Jerusalem after his conversion? 326 Is God warlike or peaceful? 327 Is the law of God perfect?
328 Is it OK to use perfume? 329 Who wrote the Pentateuch? 330 How did Peter find out that Jesus was the Messiah? 331 Where did Peter and Andrew live?
332 Were the Pharisees baptized by John? 333 Can women be church leaders? 334 How high were the pillars? 335 Were plants created before or after humans?
336 Should we try to please others? 337 How many children of the porters returned from Babylon? 338 How many men were possessed with devils? 339 What did Jesus do after his baptism?
340 How much power did Jesus have? 341 Do Christians know how to pray? 342 Should you pray for everyone? 343 When David fled to Nob, what was the priest's name?
344 On what day of the month was Jehoiachin released from prison? 345 Should Christians pray in public? 346 Is every word of God pure? 347 Was Rahab saved by faith or works?
348 Who raised Jesus from the dead? 349 Was Jesus a ransom for many or a ransom for all? 350 Can God be found through reason alone? 351 Did Mary Magdalene recognize Jesus when he first appeared to her?
352 Should we rejoice when our enemies suffer? 353 Is it OK for a divorced woman to remarry? 354 Should we rend our clothes? 355 Does God repent?
356 Does God respect anyone? 357 Did both thieves revile Jesus? 358 Is wealth a sign of righteousness or of wickedness? 359 Has there ever been a righteous person?
360 Does righteousness come from following the Law? 361 Is it necessary to keep the Sabbath? 362 How should Sabbath-breakers be punished? 363 Who may offer sacrifices to God?
364 Who was the father of Salah? 365 Did the Samaritans receive Jesus? 366 Should the gospel be preached to everyone? 367 When was the last time that Samuel saw Saul?
368 Who was Samuel's firstborn son? 369 Did Sarah have faith that she would conceive? 370 When did Satan enter Judas? 371 How did Saul die?
372 Did all of Saul's family die with him? 373 When did Saul meet David? 374 When did "Is Saul among the prophets?" become a proverb? 375 Who were Saul's sons?
376 What must you do to be saved? 377 Were the Israelites to spare the trees in the countries they invaded? 378 Did Jesus have secret teachings? 379 Was Sisera murdered in his sleep?
380 Is all Scripture inspired by God? 381 Should we let others see our good works? 382 Can God be seen? 383 How many of Senaah's offspring returned from Babylon?
384 Should you serve God alone? 385 What does the earth set upon? 386 How should a man who has sex with a menstruating woman be punished? 387 Do bad things happen to good people?
388 Did Jesus perform many signs and wonders? 389 What did Judas do with the silver? 390 Do Christians sin? 391 Where did Moses receive the Ten Commandments?
392 How many singing men and women returned from Babylon? 393 Were the men or angels inside the tomb sitting or standing? 394 In Jesus' response to the rich young man, what was the six commandment on his list of "the commandments"? 395 What was Jonathan's first slaughter?
396 Does God sleep? 397 How many valiant men drew the sword in Israel and Judah as counted by Joab? 398 Who brought Joseph into Egypt? 399 Was Solomon David's second or fourth son by Bathsheba?
400 What was Solomon's payment to Hiram? 401 When did Solomon's reign begin? 402 Was Jesus the son of David? 403 How many sons does God have?
404 How many sons did Gideon have? 405 Who were the sons of Heman? 406 Was Jesus silent during his trial before Pilate? 407 How did Jesus cure the blind man?
408 Does God have a body? 409 How many stalls did Solomon have? 410 When were the stars made? 411 Is it wrong to steal?
412 Did Joshua remove the twelve stones from the Jordan River? 413 How should strangers be treated? 414 Were the Philistines subdued all the days of Samuel? 415 Why did God turn the sundial back ten degrees?
416 Is Jesus peaceful? 417 When did Jesus' temple tantrum occur? 418 Where did Jesus tell his disciples to go after his resurrection? 419 Did the women immediately tell the disciples?
420 Did Jesus say, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up"? 421 Can God be tempted? 422 Who tempted David to number Israel? 423 Has God ever tempted anyone?
424 How old was Terah when he died? 425 Is it OK to test (or tempt) God? 426 Can thieves go to heaven? 427 At his baptism, did God address Jesus directly?
428 How much did David pay for the threshing floor? 429 Should you speak in tongues? 430 Was it OK to touch the risen Jesus before his ascension? 431 When did the transfiguration occur?
432 May Adam eat from any tree? 433 What were the twelve (or thirteen) tribes of Israel? 434 How many of each clean animal did Noah take into the ark? 435 Is there an unforgivable sin?
436 Is it OK to marry (or stay married to) unbelievers? Is it OK to touch them or be friends with them? 437 Where did God kill Uzza? 438 What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink? 439 Did Jesus go to heaven after he died but before his ascension?
440 Did the men with Paul hear the voice? 441 Where did Moses get water from a rock? 442 How did Moses get water out of the rock? 443 Does God ever tire?
444 Was Jonah swallowed by a fish or a whale? 445 Who (or what) is the ransom for the righteous? 446 Who created heaven and earth? 447 Who made the ark of the covenant?
448 Who wrote the (second set of) ten commandments? 449 Does God destroy both the righteous and the wicked? 450 Do the wicked live long? 451 Is God's will always done in heaven?
452 Is wisdom a good thing? 453 Does wisdom make people happy? 454 How many men were in the king's presence? 455 Who is for or against Jesus?
456 Who did the women see at the tomb? 457 How many women came to the sepulchre? 458 Where did the women watching the crucifixion stand? 459 Can only God work wonders?
460 How are people judged by God? 461 How many of Zattu's offspring returned from Babylon? 462 Who was Zechariah's father? 463 Did Zedekiah's eyes behold the king of Babylon?
464 Who was Zerubbabel's father? 465 Where does God dwell? 466 Did God call Abraham before or after he moved to Haran?



BibViz Project - Bible Contradictions, Misogyny, Violence, Inaccuracies