For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How many of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon?
Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:
623
“the sons of Bebai, 623” (Ezra 2:11)
628
“the sons of Bebai, 628” (Nehemiah 7:16)
(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 Ezra 2:11 as affirming the claim “623 of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon” against Nehemiah 7:16 as affirming “628 of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon.”
- One must always figure out the context of the verses the skeptic cited.
- The book of Ezra was written before the book of Nehemiah. The purpose of the book of Ezra records God’s fulfillment of bringing back the nation of Israel after 70 years of captivity. The first six chapters of Ezra record Zerubbael’s leadership in leading the exiles to return to build the alter in Jerusalem. Chapter 7-10 record how 80 years after Zerubbabel’s first trip Ezra journeyed to Jerusalem with a second group and how God used Ezra to bring about reform (William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, 482).
- The book of Nehemiah record the third great leader of the Jewish return and restoration to the Promise Land after the Exile. Nehemiah was originally a cup bearer to the Persian King who thirteen year after Ezra’s expedition he was burden for the conditions of Jerusalem (William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, 482). So God use Nehemiah to restore the city walls of Jerusalem and also other spiritual and moral reforms.
- Knowing the background of both books we can see that the time between Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 is about a period of 93 years or so.
- Knowing there is a 93 years period between Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 help us to understand the possible reasons for the differences of both chapters’ listing.
- First off In Ezra 2:1 it seems to indicate the list is giving an account of those who decided to depart Babylon in order to return to the promise land: “Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city.“
- The purpose of listing the first generation’s return to the Jerusalem in Nehemiah 7 seems to be for the reason of organizing a new genealogy in Nehemiah’s day by first basing it upon the template of the first genealogy of the first generation. Note Nehemiah 7:5: “Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record:” The different purposes must be remembered.
- Considering that Ezra 2:1 mentioned that the list in Ezra 2 are those who left the captivity in Babylon to return to Jerusalem we must remember that it is situated in a context in which Ezra 1 the people have not arrived yet to Jerusalem while the people arrived in the end of chapter 2 and beginning of chapter 3 of Ezra. It is reasonable to understand the listing of names and numbers in Ezra refer to those who departed Babylon. But just because one departed from Babylon for the promise land does not mean everyone would have arrived. Even with modern military units when we walk on foot hiking somewhere it doesn’t mean 100% of us arrive at our destination especially if there’s some incredible distance to travel; why won’t be surprised with civilians and families traveling that some will not arrive at their final destination for whatever reason?
- Thus Nehemiah 7’s listing might be of those who actually did arrive in Jerusalem and the promise land and not just a listing of those who attempted to return back to Jerusalem and the promise land.
- Also even upon their arrival to the promise land that doesn’t mean there’s a census done right away; there’s lots to do to settle in and the work of census for a genealogy might be a significant time later when things are more stable.
- Also given there’s 93 years between the two listing we can understand the latter listing in Nehemiah 7 might be a count of the population at a given specific time. Don’t forget population changes up and down for many reasons: death, births, young men coming of age in which they are now counted as adults, etc.
- Keep in mind the differences between 623 and 628 is only 5. A large group of six hundred something amount of men and their families as they head out of Babylon can easily have 5 more young men come of age and considered adults when they get to the promise Land.
- 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.”
[…] How many of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon? […]
Thank you for refuting these allegations, Jim! If only the skeptic has known your points 5.3-5.5 and 6, they might think. Then again, he’ll go for the numbers and add this with the rest of his entries. Blessings to you and your family!
You’re welcome! I agree with you I think the author of the Skeptic Annotated Bible is only going for numbers here as so many of these kinds of mistakes he repeats. How are you doing with everything brother? Will you be going to the Provinces?
No. Traveling in the country requires so many clearances from different levels of governance and tests.
Thanks for the great insight and you diligence in refuting his nonsense. Very helpful.
[…] Bible Contradiction? How many of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon? […]
Thank you for debunking another one of Steve/Stephen Wells’ alleged contradictions. I’ve noticed that Wells is making a semi-career out of noting the differences in the number of returning exiles recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah.
Good observation about Wells with Ezra and Nehemiah. I am not even over half of them from Ezra and Nehemiah! Seems like he just wants to pile them on when I think it should start making him ask questions after so many in a row of whether or not the skeptics are wrong. I think it’s intentional of Steve Hays to go for quantity of contradictions in his lists than quality interpretation based upon situating the text. Are there record snow you guys are getting?
Wells has no shame.
RE: snow
We’re still way behind our seasonal average despite the big Nor’easter on Monday and Tuesday. Sunny and 40F today just like LA! But rainy and snowy the next five days. How is your day starting out?
Well done!
Thanks! What can I pray for you today?
Wisdom and discernment! How may I pray for you?!
A differences of 5 people of a genealogy taken before and after the migration isn’t really a contradiction.
Small typo: I think you wrote down Ezra 2:10 instead of Ezra 2:11 when you typed up the passage.
Seems like it was fixed as I don’t see any typo
He is really starting to dig deep. In prayer.
The skeptic is digging deeper…a hole for himself. Sorry I couldn’t resist. LOL. But in all seriousness I pray for Steve Wells to come to Christ as he’s older now, and that he repent from his war on God before it’s too late…thanks for praying, what an example!
He is at war with a god he doesn’t believe in . In prayer, too.
I doubt these atheist have ever read the bible first-hand
Well said. Some people see problems were none exist. It would appear the Skeptic Annotated Bible is a devil’s tool.
Thank you for reading this. I agree I think the skeptics are tying to make problems that don’t exists here. How are you doing?
I have always thought of the Skeptic Annotated Bible is a joke but you are quite right how it is a devil’s tool. You guys who are Christians blogging online the Truth is important to check against the rising tide of lies out there. Keep up the good work
The skeptic claims is like drinking a book full of wind. This Bible contradiction just doesn’t exist
Thanks much!
Thanks for going in depth the differences between Ezra’s chapter and Nehemiah’s chapter.
Imagine someone going before God when he dies and saying these two verses is why they reject God. And there were articles like yours answering them. What would God say to the rebellious apostate?
[…] 2.) Bible Contradiction? How many of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon? […]
First time on your blog and I’m enjoying what I’m reading.
Apologist J Warner Wallace shared you link on his Facebook page and I see here you have written another one.
A knockout punch!
What an honor it is to be led to answer these atheists
How dare you apply common sense to understanding a text! Thanks again for your work.
[…] How many of Bebai’s offspring returned from Babylon? […]