Old testament
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Did the Arameans Stop Invading Israel?
Another apparent contradiction in the Old Testament appears in 2 Kings 6:23–24. These two consecutive verses seem to describe opposite developments in the relationship between Aram (Syria) and the kingdom of Israel. The first reports that Aramean raiding parties stopped entering Israel’s territory, while the next describes the Aramean king launching a major military siege… Continue reading
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Abiathar or Ahimelech: Who Was the High Priest?
Another frequently discussed biblical difficulty appears in Mark 2:26, where Jesus refers to an incident from the life of David. The question concerns the identity of the high priest mentioned in connection with David eating the consecrated bread. In Mark 2:23–28, Jesus and his disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples begin… Continue reading
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Levite Cities: Why Do the Numbers Differ?
The Bible contains two accounts describing the cities given to the Levites, the tribe responsible for religious duties among the Israelites. When we compare these passages, we find differences in both the number and the names of the cities assigned to the descendants of Aaron. In 1 Chronicles 6, the writer describes the towns allocated… Continue reading
