How many did the chief of the Three kill at once, 300 or 800?
Posted on Jan.09, 2009. Filed in 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles. Average rating: 1.5 / 10 (Rate It).
Among David’s warriors, a few are given special recognition, numbered among ‘the Thirty’ or even ‘the Three’. Both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles record a heroic feat performed by the chief of the Three, the slaughter of a large number of the enemy all at once. However, they disagree as to just how many of the enemy he killed.
2 Samuel tells us that the chief of the Three killed 800 in a single battle:
These are the names of the warriors whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the Three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. [2 Samuel 23:8 (NRSV)]
According to 1 Chronicles, however the chief of the Three only killed 300 in one go:
This is an account of David’s mighty warriors: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni, was chief of the Three; he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time. [1 Chronicles 11:11 (NRSV)]
So how many did the chief of the Three kill at once, 800 or 300?
N.B. All posts are written in a style sympathetic to the claim of Biblical error, even in cases where the author ("Errancy") disagrees with the claim. See the About page for the site's philosophy.
1 Comment Ratings
Inerrantist Responses
To suggest a response to this claim of error, please use the comments section below.
Rate this Claim of Error
How serious a problem for inerrancy do you think this is?
Average rating: 1.5 / 10
You must be logged in to rate errors.
June 28th, 2011 on 7:34 pm
Here’s an obvious inerrantist response. If this guy was as amazing as it says he is, there would be many stories of his valiant works. So, on one occasion he killed 300. On another he killed 800. Perhaps they just record two different events.