For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How long did Jehoash reign?
Here are the two answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
40 years
“In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba..” (2 Kings 12:1)
16 years
“In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.” (2 Kings 13:10)
(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)
Here’s a closer look at whether or not there is a contradiction:
- When dealing with skeptics’ claim of Bible contradictions it seems one can never be reminded enough of what exactly is a contradiction. A contradiction occurs when two or more claims conflict with one another so that they cannot simultaneously be true in the same sense and at the same time. To put it another way, a Bible contradiction exists when there are claims within the Bible that are mutually exclusive in the same sense and at the same time.
- In order for here to be a contradiction both 2 Kings 12:1 and 2 Kings 13:10 has to refer to the same person and have the same meaning of “years.” If these conditions were met there would indeed be a contradiction since 16 years is not 40 years.
- Here we don’t have a Bible contradiction when we discover that the individual mentioned in both 2 Kings 12:1 and 2 Kings 13:10 are referring to two different individuals.
- The Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1 was king over Judah.
- Notice how the Jehoash of 2 Kings 12:1 reigned “in Jerusalem.” Jerusalem was the capital for Judah.
- Also in 2 Kings 12:1 “Jehoash became king” “In the seventh year of Jehu.” The literary convention in 2 Kings of dating the chronology of when a king began their reign is often based upon referencing the reigning year of the king of the other kingdom. That is the king of Judah would be mentioned as beginning their reign according to the year of the reign of the king of Israel and vice verse the king of Israel would be described as beginning their reign according to the year of the reign of the king of Judah. So when we see 2 Kings 12:1 mentioned that “Jehoash became king” “In the seventh year of Jehu” we know Jehoash was the king of Judah since Jehu was a king of Israel. Jehu is described as the king of Israel explicitly in 2 Kings 10:36: “Now the time which Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.” Further confirmation can also be found in 2 Kings 10:21 and 2 Kings 10:28. Jehoash is dated according to the reign of Jehu and Jehu was the king of Israel that means Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1 is the king of Judah.
- Further confirmation that 2 Kings 12:1 is referring to the Jehoash the one who is the King of Judah can be seen in the rest of 2 Kings 12. Note Jehoash was called king of Judah twice in 2 Kings 12:18 and again in 2 Kings 12:19.
- The Jehoash in 2 Kings 13:10 was king over Israel.
- 2 Kings 13:10 states it explicitly: “Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel.”
- The context found in the rest of the chapter of 2 Kings 13 provide contextual clue this is talking about Jehoash of the kingdom of Israel.
- Note for instance 2 Kings 13:8: “Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?“
- Also the word Israel appears 18 times in chapter 13 which focus on Israel is best explained since Jehoash is the king of Israel.
- The Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1 was king over Judah.
- Even outside the Bible just because someone share the same name does not mean that there is a contradiction when details of both individuals are different. It is not a contradiction to say “President George Bush of the 1990s served as president for one term of four years” while also saying “President George Bush of the 200s served as president for two terms of eight years.” They are two different individuals and we shouldn’t be surprised different people have different details in their lives. Likewise with this alleged Bible contradiction.
There is no Bible contradiction here upon closer examination.
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for the analysis of this “contradiction.” I was going to comment on how silly it was to claim this one as a contradiction, but I can see how people not familiar with the Bible might stumble over it. By presenting this as a contradiction, Steve Wells is revealing his serious lack of Bible knowledge.
Agreed Tom I can see how people not reading carefully can stumble on this one. Amateur mistakes can be understood that they are amateurs. But at the same time it shouldn’t be something Steve Wells should err on and keep on propagating for a guy having a popular website bashing the Bible and having his list in published form and well known for decades among atheist circles. Its crazy to see how he doesn’t take down some of these alleged Bible contradictions, ones that he should blush over at how unscholarly and wrong they are. I think skeptics and atheists often brag about how rational they are but…sometimes they are arguments are the opposite of rational and factual.
Excellent explanation of the Biblical records defeating the so called contradiction. The Bible needs to be studied not just read like a novel.
“The Bible needs to be studied not just read like a novel.” Good point Crissy. I think these skeptics often read a Bible verse like a fortune cookie; they look at one sentence without the fuller context. If they were to try the *Novel idea (pun intended) of reading the Bible like a novel in terms of sequential order and consideration of the flow of the story itself, some of their alleged Bible contradictions are clear up. But you are right we need to not just read the Bible like a novel, but study it and deeper studies removed some of the other alleged Bible contradictions they claim. I say Amen to your comment! There’s nothing *novel about how these skeptics read the Bible, they are misinterpretation of the Scriptures that’s as old as the Serpent in the Garden of Eden…
I had someone tell me he could NEVER follow Jesus because He wants children to suffer!
I asked: “what you talking ‘bout Willis?”😊
He was referring to this verse:
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 KJV
NOTHING I said ever changed his mind!
SlimJim
The play on words!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog!
Yankee Whiskey Bravo
When I first saw the skeptic claim I didn’t see how it could be resolved but your attention to details resolved this contradiction. Very logically laid out and I like the George Bush example
Thank you for your comment and also compliment of the George Bush example
You are welcome
Love these posts.
Stuff like this has been on my mind quite a bit lately (did a post this morning).
I love apologetics and there is definately a need for it. But, I don’t think any mind can be changed unless the Spirit moves in a person first making apologetics use limited to those who need reassurance that faith is Christ is rational.
Just a thought
Agreed. I consider it already a great joy if this post and others like it helps only those who need reassurance in their faith. I think sometimes apologists can emphasize more the outreach aspect of the work but helping believers by thinking through things clearly is also important. By the way this is my one month mark of working out. I took a break last night to recooperate after helping someone from church move. It got me thinking how exercising is like apologetics; different reasons and motivatoin but I just want to be able to be healthy and strong enough to serve God’s people. Good food for thought brother, hope your wordpress glitch get fixed somehow.
One month. Congrats, many quit before that ger that far so, good for you.
Yes, I guess the apologetics muscles do need to be worked or they will get flabby.
I have moved away from it in favor of evangelizing but that is my gift, I think, and I love it.
Apologetics online, for me anyway, seems to always involve trying to convince someone who will not be convinced no matter what I say. Then it became more about me trying to come up with the best argument and less about God working in people.
It took years of study before I realized that I had to keep in mind the division of Israel and Judah, or be confused by some of the references made in the Old Testament. It sounds like this was another case of someone unfamiliar with the events of the Old Testament, over simplifying the text, and thinking they found error in The Scriptures. Thank you for this post, Jim!
I actually am gracious with many people when I teach Old Testament when they do not realize there’s a division between Israel and Judah; but I think I’m less gracious with those who publish in print and regularly make radio and podcast appearance for being some kind of expert at problems with the Bible make such a glaringly uninformed opinion for those at that level. Hope that makes sense!
Your comment reminded me of how as an early Christian I was so confused by the time I got to Kings and Chronicles about Judah and Israel. Thought they were the same thing lol.
Hey! That was the same mistake I was making! It was just last year when I was doing a really thorough study of the Old Testament that I had an ‘AHAH’ moment, and realized that I had been reading the text as though the nation had never separated. I mean, I knew they had before that, but didn’t realize the impact it should have had on the way I was reading it. Quite a revelation to me.
Helpful response!
Thank you, God bless you
You’re welcome
Imagine that (he says with feigned sincerity and full sarcasm), two different people in this world might just have the same name. I never would have thunk’d it. 🙂
I would love to hear one of these days you say it on video on your blog “I never would have thunk’d it.” I need to hear that in your Southern accent! I love your homespun and God-given wisdom and everyday man common sense, you are right this alleged contradiction is simply ” two different people in this world might just have the same name.”
Another good explanation, thanks
You’re welcome! I hope you had a blessed Tuesday though I suspect its already Wednesday when you read this comment lol
It is Wednesday yep. They were certainly blessed, as they all are. Very busy work wise. Tonight is the County Fair Parade in town, and our youth are riding a float. The plan is to hand out Tracts and some old VBS Bibles along with candy. I have been asked to ride along to help maintain discipline and order on the float(make sure nobody falls off.)
What an evangelistic opportunity! I remember you mentioning in the past on your blog you guys have done this…how many years have your church done this unique opportunity to evangelize?
Last year at the annual Street Festival we set up a table to hand out Bible and Tracts, and that went pretty well. The only problem is people have to find and come up to the table. The parade will be different, as all the folks watching expect the entrants to hand out candy. So, they will get candy and Tracts. We will have people walking along too. Maybe somebody will want to talk!
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