ABC:2 Chronicles 7

Verse 8

ThinkingAtheist claims the Bible is wrong about the following passage, and makes the following comments (italicized):

“ 2 Chronicles 7:5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

2 Chronicles 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

That’s 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep in a single week. That’s about 850 animals an hour, 14 every minute.

”

First of all the math may be incorrect, since verse 9 states the altar was dedicated 7 days, and the feast 7 days. A total of 14 days is mentioned elsewhere as well. If so it would have only been 11,000 oxen and 60,000 sheep per week.

“ 1 Kings 8:65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.</ref> ”

Either way though, 42 million cows die in the United States each year, around 808 thousand every week. The USDA estimates that 112,000 cows are killed daily in the United States, which is actually down from 121,000 last year. That is 5 times as many on a daily basis, and we kill that many cattle constantly rather than for a unique Israelite event. There are 30 million sheep killed each year in Australia, 577 thousand sheep every week. And over 7 billion chickens are killed each year in the United States, 13.46 million chickens every week.

While the critic is free to speculate on whether such a large-scale event could have occurred in the distant past, the fact is that those numbers are dwarfed regularly every week. Under Solomon, Israel had its golden age with more territory and wealth than at any other point in its history, allowing it to put on such a remarkable festivity. Ultimately however there is only speculation here on the part of the critic, certainly not a definite contradiction.

Verse 12

The EvilBible claims a contradiction exists here, and makes the following comments (italicized).

“ God dwells in chosen temples

2 Chronicles 7:12 ¶ And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

2 Chronicles 7:16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

God dwells not in temples

Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

”

The EvilBible doesn't quote 2 Chronicles 7 in context, verse 14 shows that God is hearing from Heaven. The passage in context is not saying God makes it His home, just that He chooses and sanctifies it so His name will be there forever, and that He'll watch over it constantly. That God is said to hear from Heaven clearly shows His home will not be on Earth or one of its buildings, consistent with Acts 7:48.

“ 2 Chronicles 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. ”