|
Why are the
statistics in Ezra 2 and
Nehemiah 7 different?
Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7
Ezra 2
and
Nehemiah 7 are listings of numbered people from different families.
The chapters represent the statistics of the same families. But they
are not identicle. I have produced a grid below that lists the
families that do not match. If you would like to see the grid
comparing all families in Ezra 2
and Nehemiah 7, go
here.
Of 39 entries (verses), 17 do not match. They are
listed below.
|
Ezra 2 |
Nehemiah 7 |
Difference |
|
5 the sons of Arah, 775 |
10 the sons of Arah, 652 |
123 |
6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the
sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812 |
11 the sons of Pahath-moab of the
sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818 |
6 |
|
8 the sons of Zattu, 945 |
13 the sons of Zattu, 845 |
100 |
|
10 the sons of Bani, 642 |
15 the sons of Binnui, 648 |
6 |
|
11 the sons of Bebai, 623 |
16 the sons of Bebai, 628 |
5 |
|
12 the sons of Azgad, 1,222 |
17 the sons of Azgad, 2,322 |
1,100 |
|
13 the sons of Adonikam, 666 |
18 the sons of Adonikam, 667 |
1 |
|
14 the sons of Bigvai, 2,056 |
19 the sons of Bigvai, 2,067 |
11 |
|
15 the sons of Adin, 454 |
20 the sons of Adin, 655 |
201 |
|
17 the sons of Bezai, 323 |
23 the sons of Bezai, 324 |
1 |
|
28 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223 |
32 the men of Bethel and Ai, 123 |
100 |
33 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
725 |
37 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
721 |
4 |
|
35 the sons of Senaah, 3,630. |
38 the sons of Senaah, 3,930. |
300 |
41 The singers: the sons of Asaph,
128 |
44 The singers: the sons of Asaph,
148 |
20 |
42 The sons of the gatekeepers: the
sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater,
the sons of Talmon, the sons of
Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the
sons of Shobai, in all 139 |
45 The gatekeepers: the sons of
Shallum, the sons of Ater, the
sons of Talmon, the sons of
Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the
sons of Shobai, 138 |
1 |
59 and 60 list several names with
one total of 652 |
61 and 62 list numerous names
with one total of 642 |
10 |
65 besides their male and female
servants, who numbered 7,337;
and they had 200 singing men
and women. |
67 besides their male and their
female servants, of whom there
were 7,337; and they had 245
male and female singers. |
45
(singers) |
|
17 discrepancies
|
It is
obvious from the above table, that there were many statistical differences
between Ezra and Nehemiah. Though most of them are identical, some do
not match. Why? The answer is simple.
Ezra was written no later than 450 B.C.1
Nehemiah should be dated during the reign of Artexerxes 1 (464-423
B.C.).2 According to the book, "Talk
Thru the Bible," Ezra was written about 538-516 B.C.3
where Nehemiah was written around 444-425 B.C.4
Therefore, the dates of writing are different and the statistical
differences can easily be accounted for by considering that during the
difference of years, people died, families grew, etc.
I must note that there is a small percentage of copyist
errors in numbers throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. It is certainly
possible that some of the numbers differ due to copyist mistakes.
Nevertheless, the difference in dates of writing can certainly account for
the difference in numbers.
_______________________
1. Harrison, R. K., Introduction to the Old
Testament, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company)
1969, page 1143.
2. Harrison, R. K. page 1146.
3. Wilkinson, Bruce and Boa, Kenneth, Talk Thru the
Bible, (New York: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1983, page 116
4. Wilkinson, Bruce and Boa, Kenneth, page 123.
Return to
Bible Difficulties - Joshua to
Esther
|