THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL ARE A MASS OF CONFUSION.
139. Where was Ahazlah killed, and how often? According to 2 Chron. xxii. 8, he was killed at Samaria; and, according to 2 King ix. 27, he was killed again.
140. How many did Jashobeam kill? "Jashobeam slew eight hundred at one time" (2 Sam. xxiii. 8). No: It was only three hundred he slew (1 Chron. xi. 11).
141. Who killed the Amalekites? Samuel says "Saul utterly destroyed them" (1 Sam. xv. 3). But, according to chapter twenty-seven of the same book, David killed them all, "left neither man nor woman" (1 Sam. xv. 13). And yet it appears they were not well killed; for, forty years after, they fought a battle with Ziklag (see 1 Sam. xxx. 18), and they were all killed again, "save four hundred young men;" and Simeon after-wards slew them. (See 1 Chron. iv. 3.) And yet, although destroyed three times, Josephus says he was a descendant of the Amalekites. They must have been a live people.
142. When did Baasha fight a battle with Judah? According to 2 Chron. xvi. 1, it was in Asa's thirty-sixth year. But, according to 1 Kings xvi. 8, in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, Baasha died, or, at least, vacated the throne,—a difference of ten years.
143. How did Asa and Baasha stand toward each other? "There was war between Asa and Baasha all their days" (1 Kings xv. 16). But, according to Chron. xiv. 1, they were at peace ten years.
144. How long aid Baasha reign? "Baasha reigned over Israel twenty-four years" (1 Kings xv. 33). But, according to 1 Kings xvi. 8, it was twenty-three years.
145. How long did Elah reign? According to 1 Kings xvi. 8, Elah reigned two years, commencing in Asa's twenty-sixth year.
146. When did Ahazlah begin to reign over Judah? Kings says it was the eleventh year of Joram (2 Kings viii. 16). Kings also says it was the twelfth (2 Kings viii. 25).
147. When did Omri begin to reign? "In the thirty-eighth year of Asa began Omri to reign" (Kings xvi. 15). But, as Zimri only reigned seven days, and began in Asa's twenty-seventh year, Omri must also have commenced in his twenty-seventh year.
148. When did Ahab commence his reign? "In the thirty-eighth year of Asa began Ahab, son of Omri, to reign" (1 Kings xvi. 29). How can that be if Omri reigned twelve years? (See 1 Kings xvi. 23).
149. When did Jeboram, son of Ahab, begin to reign? "In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, began Jeboram to reign" (2 Kings iii. 1). Impossible, if his son Amaziah commenced in Jehoshaphat's nineteenth year (see 1 Kings xxii. 31), and reigned two years: seventeen and two are nineteen. And, according to 2 Kings 1. 17 and 1 Kings, it was twelve years later, if Jehoshaphat reigned twenty-five years. (See 1 Kings).
150. When did Azzlah, or Uzzlah, begin to reign? In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, according to 2 Kings xv. 1. But, according to 2 Kings xvi. 17 and 23, it was only sixteen years.
151. How long did Jehu reign over Israel? "Jehu reigned over Israel twenty-eight years" (2 Kings x. 36). But, according to 2 Kings xiii. 1, he reigned thirty years.
152. "How long did Jehoahaz reign? Jehoahaz reigned seventeen years" (2 Kings xiii. 1). But, according to 2 Kings xiii. 10, it was twenty years.
153. How old was Ahaz when he began to reign? Twenty years. (2 Kings xvi. 2.) A wording to the text (2 Chron. xxiv. 2), his father was about eleven years old when he was born.