Contradiction Number 7

This contradiction shows up in the genealogical listings of King David's sons. In 2 Samuel 3:3, Absalom is listed as David's third son, born to Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. But over in 1 Chronicles 3:2, Absalom is listed as the fourth son, with the same mother. So which is it - third or fourth?

This isn't just a clerical detail; it matters because biblical genealogies were seen as signs of divine order, royal succession, and legitimacy. If Absalom was the third son, his eventual rebellion and claim to the throne carries different implications than if he was the fourth. Those trying to smooth this over often argue that one of the earlier sons might have died young or been excluded for some reason, which shifted the ranking by the time Chronicles was compiled. Others suggest that the chronicler may have inserted an extra name, or that the writer of Samuel simply omitted someone. Either way, it reflects the occasional messiness in biblical record-keeping - especially when multiple sources were later merged to produce the canon we have today.