www.carm.org[/url], the discrepancy in ages is due to a copyist error. We can see that the difference in ages is 20 years. The system of number notation used by the Jews at the time of Ezra consisted of horizontal hooks that represented decades. If one or both of the hooks were smudged or flaked off of a papyri, then the dates would be off by ten years or a factor of ten.The fact that this is a copyist error does not invalidate the inspiration or authority of Scripture. Remember, God inspired the originals. They were without error. The copies have problems, though very very few. The copies are copies of inspired documents and, unfortunately, some copyist errors did creep into the manuscripts. However, they do not affect any doctrinal areas and are very rare.See
http://www.carm.org/diff/2Kings8_26.htm for more details.
Wakka;43948]When did Baasha die?26th year of the reign of Asa I Kings 16:6-8 - this does not state a time of death! it just says that he died at some point. The time reference is to when his son became king- not relevant to his fathers death! No contradiction said:
Who was Josiah's successor?
Jehoahaz - 2 Chron 36:1 - became king in place of his fatherShallum - Jeremiah 22:11 - Shallum is the personal name of Jehoahaz, the name taken on ascending the throne (the latter meaning The Lord seizes). Kind of like the pope changing his name on ascension... Names were very important to the Israelites and changing ones name was a common practice - e.g. Abram ([God is] Exalted Father) became Abraham (the Father of many).