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Numerical differences between Ezra and Nehemiah

Published by ljthriepland on January 2, 2021

Numerical differences between Ezra and Nehemiah

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It is often asserted that there are numerical contradictions between Ezra and Nehemiah.

The supposed contradictions are differences between two recorded sets of numbers of
those that returned from captivity in Babylon. These two sets of lists can be found in the
book of Ezra chapter 2 and the book of Nehemiah chapter 7. 
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Of the Israelites who were freed from the Babylonian captivity, how many were the
children of Pahrath-Moab?

Ezra 2: 6The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand
eight hundred and twelve.

Nehemiah 7: 11The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two
thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.

Difference of 6 

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17. How many were the children of Zattu?

Ezra 2:8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.

Nehemiah 7:13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.

Difference of 100 

18. How many were the children of Azgad?

Ezra 2:12 The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two
Nehemiah 7:17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. 
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A difference of 1100

19. How many were the children of Adin?

Ezra 2:15 The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.

Nehemiah 7:20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.

A difference of 201

20. How many were the children of Hashum?

Ezra 2:19 The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.

Nehemiah 7:22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.

A difference of 105

21. How many were the children of Bethel and Ai?

Ezra 2:28 The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.

Nehemiah 7:32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.

A difference of 100

22. Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 agree that the total number of the whole assembly
was 42,360. Yet the numbers do not add up to anything close. The totals obtained
from each book is as follows:

29,818 Ezra

31,089 Nehemiah

A difference of 1,271 between each list. Ezra differs from the recorded total amount by
12,542 while Nehemiah differs by 11,271. 

23. How many singers accompanied the assembly?

Ezra 2:65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand
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three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men
and singing women

Nehemiah 7:67 Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were
seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and
five singing men and singing women.

Very clearly we have differences between the numbers recorded in these two lists. Some
minor, a difference of 6 while we also have some more major differences of 1100. It must
also be pointed out that these are NOT the only differences in the two lists. In fact over
half of the families in the lists differ in the recorded numbers. 

Two families differ by just 1,another family differs by 4, two more families differ by 6, we
have two families numbers that differ by 9, one differs by 11,  two numbers differ by a
whole 100, one  differs by 105, one differs by 201,one differs by 300 and one by a a huge 
1,100. All can be clearly seen when analysing one list against the other. 

The first thing that we must note is that the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally
ONE book, almost certainly written by ONE author (likely Ezra) and so if these recorded
numbers do in fact contradict each other then the author actually contradicted himself
when he recorded these two sets of lists. 

Many apologists have given their answer as to why the numbers do not agree. The two
man answers given are: 

Copyist error. 

Many apologists attribute the numerical differences to copyist error. While this
hypothetically “could” account for an individual discrepancy the fact there are numerous
differences within one list of numbers would actually mean that we are not dealing with
a single copyist error but rather multiple copyist errors that would have occured in the
multiple recorded numbers while the other numbers remained the same. Is it at all
possible? yes of course, although to assert that there were multiple copyist errors
occurring throughout these lists is highly unlikely. We must also note that there is no
actual manuscript evidence for these supposed errors having happened. It is simply an
assertion based on the fact that the numbers do not match and so the errors simply
“had to have happened” at some point.  While this answer may satisfy some, in reality
this answer simply isn’t satisfactory to anyone that believes in inerrancy of scripture and
cannot be supported with evidence.
Some apologists have put the numerical differences down to the time difference
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the two records of which some assert is 93 years. 

While this may be an answer used by many, when we actually examine this claim, again
it is a totally unsatisfactory explanation. If the recorded numbers referred to two different
counts then there would be no contradiction as the lists would not have to align with
one another seeing they would not be recording the same count.  The fact is that both
numbers do refer to the same count, therefore the time difference between the two
records is actually irrelevant to the answer.

 It is also postulated that the variation of numbers can be accounted for by births,
deaths, and or a difference between those that registered to leave the Babylonian
captivity and those that actually did. However,  If all the numbers varied then this may
have been a plausible answer but they do not, many of the numbers remain exactly the
same. If the variation in numbers were due to births, deaths or even the number that
had put their name down but didn’t actually go or included those who did leave who
had not registered to leave then it is very odd that this only affected certain groups.
Some of the recorded families would not have had any births or deaths or differences
between those that registered to leave and those that did while others had huge
variations. It is very unrealistic that these factors would affect only a certain number of
the families and not all of them. Again while this answer may be satisfactory to some,
the fact is there really is no scriptural support for this answer. It is pure conjecture.

The answer to these numerical variations is actually much simpler than these
hypothetical answers that in reality have no basis in scripture and can’t be supported by
evidence. 

Answer. 

The list recorded in Ezra 2 is a factual list. It contains the accurate number of each family
that left to return to Jerusalem from Babylon while the list recorded in Nehemiah is
factually incorrect. 

Again, it is imperative that we look closely at the information that we are being given in
each account. 

Ezra states that “these (are) the children….. that went up out of captivity”. 

Ezra 2: 1Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of
those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had
carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto
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In the book of Ezra, Ezra is recording a factual number. He is stating the actual number
of each group that left captivity and returned to Jerusalem. The numbers then recorded
in the book are accurately recorded. 

This is contrary to the list of numbers that we have given in Nehemiah where we are told
that Ezra had found a register of the genealogy of them which came from captivity and
he found written therein. 

Nehemiah 7: 5And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the
rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register
of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,

The list of numbers that then follows is not the list as per the accurately recorded
number in Ezra and neither does it assert that it is,  but rather it is an inaccurate list that
Ezra had found. The list in Nehemiah is simply stating the numbers that were recorded
within the register that Ezra had found. The numbers recorded in the book of Ezra are
not based upon numbers taken from a register. 

But what about the total numbers of the congregation. Both Ezra and Nehemiah agree
that this number was 42,360.

Ezra 2: 64The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred
and threescore,

Nehemiah 7: 66The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three
hundred and threescore,

This of course, does not match with the total number recorded in either list. 

The answer again can be found simply by reading the texts and paying close attention to
the information that is given. 

The number in the recorded count of those that returned amongst each family were
MEN only as clearly stated in both Ezra and Nehemiah. 

Ezra 2: Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai,
Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
Nehemiah 7:Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah,
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Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of
the men of the people of Israel was this;

Both Ezra and Nehemiah use the Hebrew word ‫’ ַאְנ ֵׁ֖ש י‬an-šê, of men. Women were not
included in the individual count of each family, however, they are included in the TOTAL
number of the WHOLE congregation of Israel that went up from Babylon. The total of
the families when we add up the recorded numbers differs from the total number of the
whole congregation because they do not record the same count. They therefore do not
need to match and so there is no contradiction between these two numbers.

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