I have also seen these apparent contradictions and I'd lie if I said that it didn't trouble me when I discovered them. I even had made a list of each verse and its correlating verse of every supposed miscopy in the King James Bible. I will say this: the new age "bibles" claim that they have corrected these mistakes, which causes some to lower their guard against the per-versions, but their final result is doctrinal changes. The King James Bible was translated exactly and correctly to what the original manuscripts had written upon them. Meaning that if they would try to correct what they saw as a contradiction in the originals, they would have been deceitful in their work. If you notice, these discrepancies always involve numbers (and usually large numbers) and seem to only occur between 2 Samuel and 2 Chronicles which are known as the historical book because they involved the kings of Israel and Judah. What I think happened is that the records were written by scribes which could have had a different view in the matter and took certain things into account that the other scribe did not. Not to say they were in opposition to eachother's record, but that they counted other things into their numbering.
In both accounts of the threshing floor of Onan, there is a difference in the whole of what is being purchased for emphasis. One mentions just the threshing floor and the oxen, while the other menton the place (which I would say meant the entire land on which the threshing floor rested on).
When it comes to David being provoked, this shows that while it was Satan who did the actual tempting of David, it is actually the LORD God who have providence and power over all and does whatsoever pleases Him. I believe David's heart became filled with pride, and so that fall came after his pride. There is another instance in which the LORD God does this:
1 Kings 22:20-23 King James Version (KJV)
20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
*And the correlating account*
2 Chronicles 18:19-22
19 And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?
21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.
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There are a number of these seeming contradictions which can be solved if read carefully, but I do understand that there are some which seem like completely contrasting statements and cannot be brushed off as a mere misunderstanding of the actual reading of the print.
Therefore, I will say what I have also had to say to myself: Does the exact number of who went into battle matter to our understanding of the character of the LORD God? Does our faith in Him rest on matching accounts of the numbering of the armies of Israel long ago, or whether it was 3 or 7 years of famine in an ancient time? Is there any contradiction concerning the plain Law of God or any discrepancy in His Doctrine? Will one give up what matters for that which matters not? Or will one exchange the honest truth for a lie which 'got the numbers right'? In fact, these contradictions (unlike other contradictions) help in a certain way, and you might wonder, how? It attests to the fact that these accounts and instances actually occurred in history! Some use these discrepancies to discredit the Bible but these can actually be used to prove that the history is correct and factual. If two accounts of the same thing are identical with exact wording, there is usually some suspicion concerning a conspiracy to try to prove that something happened. However, when there are two testimonies accounting for the same situation albeit with minor differences, it strengthens the possibility that the account occurred because of what is emphasized in the accounts.
Did you know this occurred in the Gospels as well?
Matthew 21:19 King James Version (KJV)
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
*And the verse it is being compared to*
Mark 11:14
14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
*Now forward to verse 19*
19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
*But I think what Jesus Christ says in the very next verse is something that we all need to hear from Him whenever we have doubt concerning His Word. It fits this situation we are having perfectly.*
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
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I cannot say that I know the matter of these things entirely, but what I do know is that there is none other than the LORD GOD Jesus Christ. I will go to my death having faith in Him than to turn back to the lusts that were in my life. I believe in His Testimony and I believe He is the Testimony. I've realized that when one stops believing with repentance in Jesus Christ, they become unhinged and begin to live a life full of pleasures, having no regard for what is right anymore. It's also interesting to note that although the religious fables of the world are teeming with obvious contradictions, it doesnt seem to move the adherents to belief in the Truth, but when we [I as a sinful person] see a handful of seeming minor discrepancies in the glorious Book of the LORD, our faith in Him becomes shaken. Don't let this overtake you. God bless you, Jeanne. I pray that the Lord comforts you concerning this.
