Bible Questions & Answers Archive 

Contradiction in the Number of Fighting Men?

By: Dr. Max D. Younce

0052

 Question 

In II Samuel 24:9 there were 800,000 fighting men in Israel, but the same account in I Chronicles says there were 1,100,000. Please explain.

 Answer 

Those in I Chronicles were the total number of men that could be enlisted to fight, but not all were on active duty. Notice in II Samuel 24:9, "And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand (800,000) VALIANT men that drew the sword." The word "valiant" is the Hebrew "CHAYIL" and means "activity" and "an army"; therefore, implying those on active duty. This is similar to the situation in America. We have those on active duty today; but, if needed, we could call up the Reserves to active duty just as we have done in the past.

Paul said in II Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith". Sad to say, we have many Christians who, instead of standing on the promises are sitting on the premises. Instead of finishing the course, they haven’t even started the course and have kept the faith all to themselves. Oh, how we need Christians to step out of the reserves to the front lines of battle in witnessing to lost to bring them to Christ!