This is the third series of 25 rejected SAB Contradictions. Among them are famous problems such as: Who was to blame for original sin? Should we believe everything? Who makes people deaf and blind? Still intriguing questions and many more.
51. Did Jesus tell his apostles to go barefoot and without a staff?
He told them to go barefoot, without a staff. (Matthew 10:10, Luke 9:3)
Wrong. In Matthew and Luke the apostles were forbidden to take a bag with all sorts of extra’s (e.g. extra sandals – Matthew) and also a ‘stick’ to carry the bag (wallet) over their shoulder. (‘Staff’ is here a mistranslation.)
He told them to wear sandals and carry a staff. (Mark 6:8-9)
Right. In Mark another saying of Jesus is given, in which is spoken about prescribed things, as a stick – of course a walking-staff – and sandals on their feet, as they had a long journey before them.
See the article: An old cracking stick to beat Christians.
No Contradiction
52. How many generations must a bastard wait until jos offspring can enter the congreation of the Lord?
At lest ten (Deuteronomy 23:2)
"No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation," (NASB)
Wrong. We have here a general interdiction to marry with members of the peoples who had lived in Canaan before the Israelites entered the land. Children of those marriages were not reckoned as Israelites, but as strangers who did not believe in Yahweh. Marriages with members of other nations were possible, if they had become faithful believers of Yahweh. Rahab, the Canaanite, lived in Israel and married Salmon (Matthew 1:5).
Less than ten (Matthew 1:3-5, Luke 3:31-33)
Wrong. Nine names are given for the offspring of Phares, the son of Judah. Phares was a son of Judah born from an extramarital affair and reckoned by the critic as a bastard. However many children have been born in Israel out of wedlock who participated in the religion of Yahweh.
The critic comparing apples and pears and blaming them to be different constructs a "contradiction" between them. Two different groups of peoples are at stake: unbelieving outsiders of Israel and believing outsiders overcoming into Israel.
Also read the article: Are we punished for the sins of others? (subject 4) And the article: Will God destroy those that intermarry?
No Contradiction
53. Who was to blame for original sin?
Eve (1 Timothy 2:14)
Right. She ate first.
Adam (Romans 5:12)
Right. He was with her and didn’t stop her. His negligence was sin and so they sinned simultaneously.
No Contradiction
54. Who was Bashemath’s father?
Elon the Hittite (Genesis 26:34)
Right. There were two Bashemaths in the harem of Esau. This one was also named Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite (Genesis 36:2-3).
Ishmael (Genesis 36:2-3)
Right. This was the second Bashemath, who was named originally Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 28:9, probably a granddaughter of Ishmael). Mahalath means illness, weakness and certainly as a young girl she got her second name Bashemath (perfume).
It seems that when she entered Esau’s harem the first Bashemath received her second name: Adah (beauty); as Esau’s first wife she could not be equalized with the last one (Genesis 26:34, 36:2).
No Contradiction
55. What was the volume of the molten sea in Solomon’s temple?
2000 baths (1 Kings 7:26)
Right. The normal amount of water was only 2000 baths.
3000 baths (2 Chronicles 4:5)
Right. The copper sea had the capacity of 3000 baths.
See the article: How large is the content of the sea?
No Contradiction
56. How many of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon?
623 (Ezra 2:11)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
628 (Nehemiah 7:16)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was made up after the journey to Jerusalem. It shows that after the departure, some of Bebai’s offspring who came up later, joined the stream of immigrants. Or that some births took place en route.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel?
No Contradiction
57. When did Saul become David’s enemy?
After the dancing girls sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:8-9)
Wrong. He was not completely his enemy, he simply looked suspiciously at David from this time on.
After David bought Saul’s daughter with 200 Philistine foreskins. (1 Samuel 18:27-29)
Wrong. Earlier, as Saul gave him this task in the hope that David would be killed by the Philistines. (1 Samuel 18:25)
No Contradiction
58. Who named Beersheba?
Abraham (Genesis 21:31)
Wrong. Abraham called a place (Hebrew: makom) with a well "Beersheba".
Isaac (Genesis 26:33)
Right. Later on Isaac called a city (Hebrew: ier) "Beersheba" (near the former place Beersheba).
No Contradiction
59. Where did Joseph and Mary live before the birth of Jesus?
They lived in Nazareth, and travelled to Bethlehem because of a census. (Luke 2:1-7)
Right.
They lived in a house in Bethlehem, and moved to Nazareth after returning from Egypt. (Matthew 2:1-2, 11, 22-23)
Wrong. After the birth they settled in Bethlehem, they remained (rented?) in a house. They certainly wanted to fulfil the prophecy that the Messiah was from Bethlehem. In this house the wise men visited them after which they fled to Egypt.
No Contradiction
60. Should we believe everything?
Yes (1 Corinthians 13:7)
Wrong. Truth is an implication of divine love with four great ALLS: …
(Love) rejoices with the truth:
bearing all (true) things – how painful they may be,
believing all (true) things – as the details are important in life,
hoping all (true and good) things – open-minded to the future,
enduring all (true and bad) things – as love gives perseverance.
No (Proverbs 14:15, 26:25, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1)
Right. It is biblical to check new information.
No Contradiction
61. How many believers were there at the time of the ascension?
There were 120 believers after the ascension. (Acts 1:15)
Wrong. The people in Galilee had followed Jesus in great numbers. After the ascension (Jerusalem, mount of Olives) there were at least 120 believers together in Jerusalem.
There were more than 500 believers before the ascension. (1 Corinthians 15:6)
Wrong. The people in Galilee had followed Jesus in great numbers. Jesus revealed himself to more than 500 brethren, this was certainly in Galilee and not in Jerusalem. Jesus had said to his disciples to go to Galilee as he wanted to reveal himself there.
No Contradiction
62. How old was Benjamin when his clan migrated to Egypt?
He was an infant. (Genesis 44:20-22)
Wrong. Benjamin is called here “a little child of his old age”, “the lad”. It suggests that he was an infant, but these words are to be seen in their context. To Jacob Benjamin always remained “the little child”, “the lad”, “the young one”. The words are here expressions of relationship, not of age. That’s all.
He was a grown man with ten sons. (Genesis 46:8, 21)
Right. The text is absolutely clear about that.
No Contradiction
63. Who were the sons of Benjamin?
Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard (Genesis 46:21)
Right. Ard and Naaman died early without giving birth to children. It was Belah who married their widows and gave birth with them to boys with these names: Ard and Naaman (Numbers 26:40).
Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shupham, Hupham (Numbers 26:38-40)
Wrong. This list doesn’t pretend to give a complete list of Benjamin’s sons. Here are mentioned the most important (military) leaders of the tribe at that moment (in the desert). Bela and Ashbel are certainly biological sons of Benjamin. Maybe Ahiram was another name for Ehi.
Bela, Becher, Jediael (1 Chronicles 7:6-12)
Wrong. This list also doesn’t pretend to give a complete representation of Benjamin’s biological sons. It shows that the family of Becher (second son of Benjamin) had grown in military importance in comparison with the list of Numbers 26:38-40) and Ashbel’s family had decreased in importance. It seems (it is not necessary) that Jediael was a biological son of Benjamin who was born in Egypt after the entrance of Jacob’s family in Egypt. This list is from Joshua’s time.
Bela, Ashbel, Aharah, Nohah, Rapha (1 Chronicles 8:1-2)
Wrong. This list in Chronicles is part of a large historical overview of the most important people of the tribe of Benjamin (and not of his biological sons). This list begins with five sons of Benjamin in order of importance not according age. The first three were already present in the same order in Numbers 26:38-40 (Aharah is Ahiram, maybe Ehi). Noha and Rapha are to be taken as sons of Benjamin born in Egypt.
No Contradictions
64. Were Naaman and Ard the sons or the grandsons of Benjamin?
They were the sons of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21)
Right. They are mentioned here as sons of Benjamin.
They were the grandsons of Benjamin (Numbers 26:38-40)
Right. Ard and Naaman are mentioned here as sons of Bela and consequently grandsons of Benjamin. Obviously Benjamin’s sons Ard and Naaman died early without generating children and Bela, as the oldest, accepted their wives and gave birth to two boys naming them Ard and Naaman to their fathers to maintain their remembrance. This was common practice in Israel.
No Contradiction
65. Who asked Jesus for the best seats in heaven?
James and John (Mark 10:35-37)
Right. They were the first to ask.
The mother of James and John (Matthew 20:20-21)
Right. After Jesus’ refusal to reply positively, their mother repeated the question of her sons. We know that as Matthew 20:20 says: “[she] came to Jesus with her sons, …” It was clearly her initiative. We have to do with one occurrence. In particular, the common indignation among the other disciples excluded more actions by the brothers and their mother concerning this point.
No Contradiction
66. When did Jacob rename Luz to Bethel?
Before visiting the land of Padanaram (Genesis 28:18-19)
Wrong. He didn’t rename. He started to use a different name (Bethel) and as he left the region the inhabitants continued to call the place Luz.
After visiting the land of Padanaram (Genesis 33:18, 35:6-7)
Wrong. At his return some decades later he continued to call the place Bethel, but also the name Luz remained (Genesis 48:3 where Jacob says: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.”)
No Contradiction
67. How many of Bethlehem and Netopha’s offspring returned from Babylon?
179 (Ezra 2:21-22)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
188 (Nehemiah 7:26)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was made up after the journey to Jerusalem. It shows that after the departure some of Netopha’s offspring, who came up later, joined the stream of immigrants. Or that some births took place en route.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel?
No Contradiction
68. Where did Jesus cure the blind man?
In Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-25)
Right. Jesus cured many people, e.g. a blind man in Bethsaida in Galilee. Of course this was not the same blind man that was cured in Jerusalem outside the temple.
Outside the temple (John 8:59-9:6)
Right. This cured man was of course not the same one who was cured in Bethsaida.
No Contradiction
69. How many of Beza’s offspring returned from Babylon?
323 (Ezra 2:17)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
324 (Nehemiah 7:23)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was made up after the journey to Jerusalem. It seems that a birth took place en route.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel?
No Contradiction
70. How many of Bigvai’s offspring returned from Babylon?
2056 (Ezra 2:14)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that Ezra recorded in Babylon at the meeting place of departure.
2067 (Nehemiah 7:19)
Right. This is a quotation from the list that was made up after the journey to Jerusalem. It shows that after the departure many of Bigvai’s offspring who came up later, joined the stream of immigrants. Or that some births took place en route.
See the article: Contradictory lists about Israelites that returned from Babel?
No Contradiction
71. Who is the most blessed woman?
Mary (Luke 1:26-28, 30)
"he [Gabriel] said to her, “Greetings, avored one! The Lord is with you.” And: "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God." (NASB)
Right. The answer on this question is given by Elisabeth, the aunt of Mary, who said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?" (Luke 1:42-43)
Jael was a wonderful woman, however she was not "mother of the Lord". Even Mary herself was aware of this as she said: "For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;" (Luke 1:48-49)
Jael (Judges 5:24-27)
"Most blessed of women is Jael," And: "Most blessed is she of women in the tent." (NASB)
Is it contradictiong that Jael is referred to as "Most blessed" while Mary seems to be more blessed? No, Deborah spoke this blessing over Jael for their time and not for the future. The blessing of Mary would and will remain forever.
Judith (Judith 13:23-25)
Wrong. Not relevant as the book of Judit does not belong to the Canon of the 66 biblical books.
No Contradiction
72. Who makes people deaf and blind?
God (Exodus 4:11, John 9:1-3)
Wrong. We have here a common misinterpretation suggesting that God makes people deaf and blind. But is that the context? It is mentioned to Moses that God has given a mouth unto man (creation – the faculty of speaking). Then follows: “Or who makes [him – is lacking in the Hebrew] mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I the Lord?” (NASB) These qualities are not necessarily related with handicaps, but instead with possibilities and impossibilities of creatures in general: e.g. a worm is mute, deaf and blind, nevertheless it is a wonderful living creature.
Foul spirits (Mark 9:17, 25)
Partly Right. It is only one example of someone who is mute and deaf by a spirit. It is not said here that this is always the cause.
No Contradiction
73. How many blind men were healed near Jericho?
Two (Matthew 20:30)
Wrong. At least four: one before Jesus entered the city (Luke 18:35), two together when Jesus left the city (Matthew 20:30), and also one alone when Jesus left the city (Mark 10:46).
Only one (Mark 10:46)
Wrong. At least four: one before entering the city (Luke 18:35), two together leaving the city (Matthew 20:30), and one alone also leaving the city (Mark 10:46 – Bartimaeus).
Take note. Many Bible versions incorrectly give the heading “Bartimaeus receives sight” at Luke 18:35, but that was the man of Mark 10:46.
See the article: How many blind men were healed near Jericho?
No Contradiction
74. Does the blood of animal sacrifices take away sin?
Yes (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:10, 16, 18; 6:7; 17:11, Numbers 15:27-28; 29:5)
Wrong. There was forgiveness, there was atonement, but it could not take away the initial power of sin, which is an intrinsic part of it. (Hebrews 9:13-14)
No (Hebrews 10:4, 11)
Right. Jesus’ sacrifice brought not only forgiveness, it also brought purification of the conscience. Looking unto Jesus we don’t see an animal slaughtered, but the son of God wilfully dying for our sins, for the sins of mankind. That’s serious. Isn’t it?
No Contradiction
75. What are the borders of Israel?
All of the land between the Nile and Euphrates Rivers (Genesis 15:18, Exodus 23:31)
15:18-21 (NASB) On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”
Totally wrong. Three points. 1. This was said to Abram when he had sacrificed somehwere in Canaan. 2. "This land" refers to the area where Abram brought his sacrifice. 3. The clause "from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:" (the distance of Abrams journey roughly speaking) is further defined with regions in it of 10 tribes. In other words only these tribes together cover the land promised to the descendants of Abram; neither Egypt, neither the river Euphrates are mentioned here as future borders of Israel.
Exodus 23:31. With the word River is not referred to the Euphrates, but to the river Jordan which is clear from Numbers 34:12 "And the border shall go down to the Jordan and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea."
(The showed map does not represent the text of Genesis 15:18)
The area defined in Numbers (34:1-11)
Wrong. In Numbers 34:1-12 about the same area is given as in Genesis 15:18-21, in geographical references instead of regions of tribes. The critic takes an advance for a large northern region wich is defined by a certain mountain Hor in the neighbourhood of Mount Hermon. The critic takes it somewhere in the north of the present Lebanon, which is unacceptable as a mount Hor there has never been proven.
The area defined in Ezekiel (47:13-21)
Wrong. The overview in Ezekiel is not to be taken as a realistic geographical description of the tribes of Israel after the exile (538 BC). It is to be seen as a visionary (heavenly) picture of the continuation of the people of Israel after the exile in a spiritual way.
No Contradiction
No Bible Contradictions.