Why is there a discrepancy in the numbers in 2 Samuel 10:18 and 1 Chronicles 19:18?
2 Samuel 10:18, says:
“And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed 700 charioteers of the Syrians, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there.” (ESV)
The issue is that 1 Chronicles 19:18, which records the same event, says:
“And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed 7,000 charioteers, and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army.” (ESV)
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Shirley H
Supporter
Looking in my NKJV Nelson study Bible, the explanation is a copycat's error. However I looked in every other version I have and they all say the same thing. Back to 1985, a King James from 1961, and other versions, and all of them say the same thing! You would think that someone would have caught that and made it even steven! However, I had a similar question and wrote to the publisher of the Bible, and they never answered me. Anyway, we know David won, and nothing can change that now...so, I guess it's just another thing we have to move on from.
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