MUSLIM DETRACTORS continue their attack on the Bible by bringing up more supposed contradictions in the Holy Book.
One detractor, Ben Lancuyan, pointed out what he claimed were inconsistencies between 2Kings 8:26 and 2Chronicles 22:2.
Ben asked,
How old was Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?
As I already proved before, there are NO CONTRADICTIONS in the BIBLE. DETRACTORS only DO NOT UNDERSTAND or REFUSE to UNDERSTAND the TEXTS.
Again, let us explain what DETRACTORS DO NOT COMPREHEND.
Let us start by reading the two verses.
2Kings 8:26
Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri of Israel.
2Chronicles 22:2
Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.
TAKEN in ISOLATION, or OUT OF CONTEXT, it would appear that there is inconsistency. In 2Kings 8:26, Ahaziah began to reign when he was 22 years old. Meanwhile, in 2Chr 22:2 he was 42 years old.
But put in CONTEXT, we would see that 2Kings 8:26 and 2Chr 22:2 are talking of TWO DIFFERENT THINGS using TWO DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.
KING AT 22 BUT DID NOT REIGN UNTIL 42
2Kings 8:26 refers to the time when Ahaziah took the throne in Judah after his father, Jehoram, died.
Jehoram died when he was 40 years old. He was 32 years old when he became king and died after an eight-year term. (2Chr 21:20)
With his father only 40 years old when he died, it is understandable that Ahaziah was only 22 when he assumed the throne.
That was why 2Kings 8:26 said that "Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign."
However, it should be noted that Ahaziah was not supposed to take the throne because he was the youngest among Jehoram's sons. Heirs to the thrown were usually the eldest or older sons.
But all of Ahaziah's older brothers were killed by the Philistines. (2Chr 21:16; 2Chr 22:1)
Having no one else to take the throne, the people of Jerusalem hailed Ahaziah as king.
2Chronicles 22:1 says:
Because he was not really supposed to take the thrown, he was not suited to be king. So, he sat as king but it was really his mother, Athaliah, who ran the throne.
2Chronicles 22:3 says:
It was only 20 years later, when he was already 42 when he actually reigned. That is why 2Chr 22:2 said that "Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign."
22 VS 42, A CONTRADICTION?
So, 2Kings 8:26 said "22" and 2Chr 22:2 said "42." Do they contradict?
NO. In fact, THEY are BOTH CORRECT.
As I said, it was a matter of POINT OF VIEW.
The SCRIBE who wrote 2Kings 8:26 considered the time (age 22) when Ahaziah ASSUMED or TOOK the throne.
The CHRONICLER, who wrote 2Chr 22:2, considered the time when Ahaziah ACTUALLY RULED as KING (age 42).
So, NO CONTRADICTION.
Jehoram died when he was 40 years old. He was 32 years old when he became king and died after an eight-year term. (2Chr 21:20)
With his father only 40 years old when he died, it is understandable that Ahaziah was only 22 when he assumed the throne.
That was why 2Kings 8:26 said that "Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign."
However, it should be noted that Ahaziah was not supposed to take the throne because he was the youngest among Jehoram's sons. Heirs to the thrown were usually the eldest or older sons.
But all of Ahaziah's older brothers were killed by the Philistines. (2Chr 21:16; 2Chr 22:1)
Having no one else to take the throne, the people of Jerusalem hailed Ahaziah as king.
2Chronicles 22:1 says:
The inhabitants of Jerusalem made his (Jehoram's) youngest son Ahaziah king as his successor; for the troops who came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.
Because he was not really supposed to take the thrown, he was not suited to be king. So, he sat as king but it was really his mother, Athaliah, who ran the throne.
2Chronicles 22:3 says:
He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.
It was only 20 years later, when he was already 42 when he actually reigned. That is why 2Chr 22:2 said that "Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign."
22 VS 42, A CONTRADICTION?
So, 2Kings 8:26 said "22" and 2Chr 22:2 said "42." Do they contradict?
NO. In fact, THEY are BOTH CORRECT.
As I said, it was a matter of POINT OF VIEW.
The SCRIBE who wrote 2Kings 8:26 considered the time (age 22) when Ahaziah ASSUMED or TOOK the throne.
The CHRONICLER, who wrote 2Chr 22:2, considered the time when Ahaziah ACTUALLY RULED as KING (age 42).
So, NO CONTRADICTION.
