For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who were the sons of Heman?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth
“Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.” (1 Chronicles 25:4)
Jehiel, and Shimei
“and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.” (2 Chronicles 29:14)
(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.
- One should be skeptical of whether this is a Bible contradiction given the Skeptic Annotated Bible’s track record of inaccurately handling the Bible. See the many examples of their error which we have responded to in this post: Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions. Of course that does not take away the need to respond to this claim of a contradiction, which is what the remainder of this post will do. But this observation should caution us to slow down and look more closely at the passages cited by the Skeptic Annotated Bible to see if they interpreted the passages properly to support their conclusion that it is a Bible contradiction.
- The skeptic tries to pit 1 Chronicles 25:4 as affirming the claim “The sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth” against 2 Chronicles 29:14 as affirming “The sons of Heman were Jehiel, and Shimei.”
- One must always ask if the skeptics properly interpreted the verses.
- 1 Chronicles 25:4 does affirm the claim “The sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.”
- 2 Chronicles 29:14 does affirm “The sons of Heman were Jehiel, and Shimei.”
- Hypothically the above does not necessitate a contradiction given that the list in each verse doesn’t rule out or exclude the other verses of who are the sons of Heman.
- For instance 1 Chronicles 25:4 does NOT say “The sons of Heman were ONLY Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.” If it said that then it would contradict 2 Chronicles 29:14’s affirmation that “The sons of Heman were Jehiel, and Shimei.” Likewise 2 Chronicles 29:14 does NOT say “The sons of Heman were ONLY Jehiel, and Shimei” so it does not contradict the listing of sons in 1 Chronicles 25:4.
- Nor does 1 Chronicles 25:4 say “The sons of Heman were NOT Jehiel, and Shimei” which would then contradict 2 Chronicles 29:14. Likewise 2 Chronicles 29:14 did not say “The sons of Heman were NOT Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth” which would contradict 1 Chronicles 25:4.
- In both 1 Chronicles 25:4 and 2 Chronicles 29:14 the Hebrew word for “sons” is a plural form of the Hebrew word “בֵּן” that is often translated as “son.” The range of meaning for בֵּן include “son” but it can also be translate in English as “grandson” or descendants and not necessarily the first generation offspring.
- We see this in Genesis 31:55 where Laban kisses his grandchildren though it uses the Hebrew word בֵּן. The Hebrew word for son allows for its use to include grandson.
- We see an instance of this Hebrew word meaning “grandson” in our previous post “Who Was Achan’s father?“
- We see an instance of this Hebrew word meaning “grandson” in our previous post “Who was Laban’s father?“
- Another example of the Hebrew word בֵּן meaning “grandson can be seen in our previous post “Was Zechariah Iddo’s son or grandson?“
- Another example of the Hebrew word בֵּן meaning “grandson can be seen in our previous post “Was Jehu the son or grandson of Nimshi?“
- Still another example of the Hebrew word בֵּן meaning “grandson” can be found in our post “Who was Korah’s father?“
- Finally there is the example of the Hebrew word בֵּן meaning “grandson” in our post “Were Naaman and Ard the sons or the grandsons of Benjamin?“
- Some might object that the possible range of meaning for בֵּן meaning “son” and “grandson” is illegitimate since there’s two possible meaning of the term when one should have one meaning. But that’s a terrible objection. Terms can have more than one meaning in many languages and not just with Hebrew. For instance consider the lexical range of meaning for the English word Whoppers and the Word “Left”.
- This point that the word “son” can refer to one’s descendants besides one immediate first generation offspring is important for our passages. In terms of the context both passages refer to different times and generations so we won’t be surprised that the listing of the descendants of Heman mentioned would be different individuals.
- In the context of 1 Chronicles 25:4 this was during the days of when David was King. David was the second king in Israel’s history. In the context 1 Chronicles 25:1 indicates that the list of names are those who were set apart as musicians in their service to God and Israel. Earlier in the book of 1 Chronicles we know that Heman himself as a Levite was already recognized and set apart for musical services in 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:39, 1 Chronicles 15:17-19, 1 Chronicles 16:41-42. So it seems Heman’s descendants were also involved with music. By the way the names in 1 Chronicles 25:4 is not the list of all of Heman’s kids and descendants (grandkids, etc) but only those who were involved with the service of music.
- In the context of 2 Chronicles 29:14 this was during the days of when Hezekiah was King. He was a descendant of David and the thirteenth successor of David as king in Jerusalem. So obviously the descendants of Heman that is named in 2 Chronicles 29:14 would be different than those named in 1 Chronicles 25:4 since the descendants named would have to be a contemporary of King Hezekiah. Similar to 1 Chronicles 25:4 the names listed in 2 Chronicles 29:14 was not meant in the context to be a comprehensive listing of all of Heman’s descendants, such as how its done in a genealogy. Instead in the context of 2 Chronicles 29:14 the names mentioned are those who were Levites (2 Chronicles 29:12) that went and “assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 29:15).
- Given everything we know of the context there is no contradiction here. Seems the skeptic needs to learn of How to Handle Bible Contradictions.
- We shouldn’t miss that worldviews are at play even with the skeptic’s objection to Christianity. The worldview of the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible actually doesn’t even allow for such a thing as the law of non-contradiction to be meaningful and intelligible. In other words for him to try to disprove the Bible by pointing out that there’s a Bible contradiction doesn’t even make sense within his own worldview. Check out our post “Skeptic Annotated Bible Author’s Self-Defeating Worldview.”
[…] Who were the sons of Heman? […]
We are all descendants of ADAM AND EVE
PROPAGANDA IS SOCIAL MEDIA LIES UPON LIES DICTATED BY MAN
I’m a bit confused by your comments over my blog the last 24 hours if what you are saying have anything to do with what I wrote on my blog. Just curious if you might be saying my rebuttal to the atheist here is a propaganda or if you are saying the skeptic is promoting propaganda? Or you are not talking about neither at all but something else or stating a general truth. Thanks ahead of time for the clarification.
Amen we are all descendants of Adam and Eve
I love how you look into the Hebrews and gave us examples that we can see even in our English Bibles of where the word “sons” can mean descendants beyond one’s immediate sons.
Point 8 goes to the heart of the problem with this so-called contradiction
Thank you for refuting this, Jim! The skeptics simply go for quantity over quality. Instead of being mindful of possibilities, like what you see in points 5 and 6, they simply pushed the proceed button. Making you refute them in the process and me realizing that I have not read a lot of OT Books.
Interesting you said that as I realized the last few Bible contradictions I have looked at really allowed me to read more of the Old Testament. And that has been edifying and pleasurable to be in His Word. What man meant for evil God had meant for good amen?
Amen, Jim! Like Joseph’s story indeed! Good night! Btw, “magandang gabi” is the counterpart of good evening; following the previous conversation.
Thanks for this thorough analysis of another one of Steve/Stephen Wells’ alleged contradictions. Once again, he’s gone to the son/grandson/descendant cherry tree. He’s absolutely shameless.
You noticed the many sons/grandson errors that Steve commits! You’ve read this blog for a long time now and I thought I completed refuting all the sons/grandsons contradictions but there seems to be more. Makes me wonder if he ever call people younger than him “hey son…”. Today it finally feels cool enough like Fall here, how was the leaf operation??
RE: “hey son…”
Yeah, someone could follow Wells around all day and take note of all of the bogus “contradictions” out of his mouth and keypad. As you notice, I always refer to him as Steve/Stephen. I assume he uses both. That’s a “contradiction” according to his standards.
RE: leaves
How did you know? We had a SoCal-like high of 81F today! Freakish. Back to normal tomorrow, high of 48F. My first day working leaves with the blower. 3 tarp-fulls to the curb, only 57 more to go in the next 6 weeks! Also blew out the gutters and cut the back lawn. I’m bushed. 14K steps. Couch duty until 9 p.m.
How’s the day going for you in sunny SoCal?
Very well reasoned and presented. Blessings for continuing this great repository of work.
Great job as always! “sons” can most certainly mean grandsons/decedents. What Bible study are you teaching this weekend?! Praying for your sermon!
Thanks for reading this! Wow thanks also for asking what I’m teaching this weekend! For youth group we will look at Mark 6:1-6 about the danger of thinking we are familiar with Jesus! I am behind though on Sunday sermon prep which I aim for Ephesians 3:1-8 but we shall see! Pray for that if you can yeah, for my sermon prep? Saturday evening I also have the delay of our church’s movie night and also I need to go to a seminary library to scan as a PDF a chapter from an academic book for somebody . How are you and how did the fellowship on Skype go?
Praying for your sermon prep! Skype was GREAT! Looking forward to when you are able to join! I want to outreach to Tom (excatholic4christ) and see if he and his wife would want to Skype as well!!! I’m so thankful for you, Nancy and your girls!!!
Great research pastor Jim. Thank you for solving another non existent contradiction.
Thank you and also thank you for praying for my weekend ministry Crissy. I think you might be the opposite of me, I like when its hot and look forward to it but you don’t; I imagine you like it when it feels more wintery?
Temperature around 25C (77F) is my preference.
Other than that yes winter before Sydney summer 😃
Blessings
Very good rebutal.
We are all descendants of Adam and Eve we are one family one cloth one blood we may not be related in blood but a blind light is Adam and Eve religion is man-made two separate cultures repeat repeat that again religion is man made two separate cultures I am in the holy spirit in human flesh and human body of your world I am speaking through a young lady she not so young but she is 50 but I have greater with looks
You have greater looks than the 50 year old and she’s young but not so young?
Apologies for any errors technology made MAN by man has got flaws where it says blocks it should say blogs
MIC of technology cannot understand simple and plain English like you and me
Shame on the skeptic for not reading things carefully! Peer review is a trait of scholarship and the atheist here doesn’t display that.
I fine skeptics attempt to prove a contradiction nauseating.
Me too
New to your blog. I searched up Christian apologetics and found this post and love how you answered the skeptic
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? Who were the sons of Heman? […]
[…] Who were the sons of Heman? […]
[…] A notorious one I see too often in the list of “Bible contradictions” on the Skeptic Annotated Bible has to do with whether someone is a son or grandson of somebody. The Skeptic Annotated Bible shows no awareness of the range of the meaning for the Hebrew word בֵּן include “son” but it can also be translate in English as “grandson” or descendants and not necessarily the first generation offspring. See my post “Who Was Achan’s father?“, “Who was Laban’s father?“, “Was Zechariah Iddo’s son or grandson?“, “Was Jehu the son or grandson of Nimshi?“, “Who was Korah’s father?“, “Were Naaman and Ard the sons or the grandsons of Benjamin?“ and Who were the sons of Heman? […]