When Was Jehoiachin Set Free?

Was Jehoiachin Set Free From Prison On 25^th Day (Jeremiah 52:31) Of The Month Or The 27^th Day Of The Month (2 Kings 25:27)?

Alleged Bible Contradiction

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, February 13, 2026 (Donate)

The relevant passages (NKJV) are:

Jeremiah 52:31
Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. 

2 Kings 25:27
Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.

Many Christians assume that this alleged discrepancy is a “copyist mistake” because it involves numbers. Numbers would be, after all, a reasonable mistake when copying from another manuscript. In fact, if one were to search books or the internet on this alleged contradiction, the likely answer given by Christians is that this is a copyist mistake.

However, before one assumes this, I suggest we take a closer look at what these two verses are saying. In both verses, the passages have some portions that are identical and others that are not; the form is below:

Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month [date] that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, . . . [further information].

This would be a legitimate contradiction, or perhaps a copyist mistake, if the date were different, but the further information were identical. But this is not the case, and accordingly, the further information proves very significant in this case. So, let’s take a closer look at this further information.

Jehoiachin, upon hearing he was to be set free; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Jeremiah 52:31 has on the date of the 25 that the King of Babylon “lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.” On the other hand, 2 Kings 25:27 has on the 27 that the King of Babylon “released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.”

These are two different dates, indeed, because they are referring to two different instances. On the 25, the King of Babylon gives the decree to release Jehoiachin king of Judah. But it took a couple of days for Jehoiachin king of Judah to actually be released.

Jehoiachin being set free; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Hence, this is no contradiction; rather, the Bible is actually being much more specific in the details than the reader may first realize. Even in today’s culture, if a prisoner is pardoned by a governing official like the President, it takes time before the person is released from prison—the orders need to be verified, paperwork filed, etc. So, two days is not unreasonable.

This should be a lesson to Christians, too. When an alleged contradiction is brought to our attention, the first place we should look is the Scriptures themselves and think logically about the verses in question.

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.   

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children. 

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry. 

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.

 

Could Adam Eat from Any Tree?

Could Adam Eat from Any Tree?

Did God contradict Himself concerning what He said Adam could eat?

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, February 3, 2026 (Donate) 

The “Problem” 

God said that Adam and Eve may eat from any tree in Genesis 1, but in Genesis 2 He said that they may not eat from one tree.

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Genesis 1:29, NKJV)

 

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17, NKJV) 

This seems to be a rather straightforward alleged contradiction. God said to eat and not to eat; but is this in the same relationship? 

The Solution

There are several possible solutions that easily reveal this is not a contradiction. But there are other potential solutions that could eliminate this alleged contradiction. 

Seedless?

One possibility is revealed by reading these verses more carefully. There are qualifying terms in Genesis 1:29 that show the herbs and fruit must produce seeds. So potentially, there were trees and herbs that did not produce seed and were off-limits.  

The fruit could have been seedless. Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Consider for a moment that some plants reproduce by other means—shoots, sprouts, and so on. Even some “fruited” vegetation use these other means of spreading in addition to seeds. Raspberries, for example, lean over and strike the ground, and roots develop for the next year’s plants. Strawberries send out shoots that also take root. But they still reproduce via fruit and seed, so they would have been allowed.  

The fruit of figs have seeds, so they too would be included as edible food per Genesis 1:29, and indeed, figs were found in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:7). So, consider for a moment how this alleged contradiction “bears no fruit” if the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had no seed in it. This would resolve the proposed contradiction. It might also explain why the tree of the knowledge of good and evil may not have thrived and reproduced but remained as a unique one-off plant. 

Speaking of Broad vs. Specific Places

The Lord could have been speaking of the fruit on the face of the whole earth beyond the special and unique Garden of Eden. This would make sense considering there were special instructions given to Adam regarding what was edible in the Garden and what was not. In other words, they may have been complementary commands given for two different places (i.e., different relationship). 

This information would prove rather useful had they traveled beyond the borders of the Garden for expedition of potential living space for their descendants. Remember, they were commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth in Genesis 1:28. So knowing that edible food was ready for them beyond the Garden would only make filling the earth that much easier. 

Exception Clause 

Probably the simplest explanation is that the command about not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was given first and served as an exception clause. Although it appears in the Bible in Genesis 2:17, this instruction was delivered prior to the creation of Eve. In Genesis 1, God’s instruction about food occurred after the creation of Eve, so Adam was already fully aware of the exception. 

These types of exceptions appear elsewhere in Scripture. For example, Jesus gave an exception in Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 regarding divorce. So, assuming that giving an exception clause is without warrant would be inaccurate. The exception clause simply shows that God revealed more information about a particular subject at the necessary time.  

Conclusion 

Any of these possibilities indicate that this alleged contradiction can be “pruned from the tree.” Once again, the Bible easily withstands the attack of the skeptic. 

□

Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. Originally at Answers in Genesis; Edited; Republished by permission.

 

Rahab Praised For Lying?

 A Righteous Lie?

Why Was Rahab Praised For Lying In James 2:25 When Lying Is Forbidden In The 10 Commandments? 

 Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, March 26, 2025 (Donate)

Was Rahab praised for lying? A closer look at the Scripture reveals she was not praised for lying. It's always good to go back and check claims against the absolute authority of God's Word.  

The context of Rahab's actions refers to Joshua 2:1-16, when the Israelites were spying out the land that the Lord has promised them. Rahab gave refuge to the spies and hid them and send the pursuers off in another direction while directing them elsewhere. During her discourse with the pursuers, she lied about where the men were. This refers to: 

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. (Joshua 2:1, NKJV) 

After she hid the spies, she sent them off in another direction:  

And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” (Joshua 2:16, NKJV) 

This was a different direction from where she sent the spies’ pursuers. This is where the relevant passage in James 2 becomes important: 

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? (James 2:25, NKJV) 

The first thing that needs to be pointed out is that nowhere in this verse is Rahab given any inclination of being praised for lying to the spies.  Also in Hebrews 11:31, Rahab’s faith was praised for receiving the spies in peace. But again, there was no praise for lying. Rahab was not righteous for lying but for her other deeds: 

1. Giving lodging to the spies
2. Sending the spies in another direction  

It was for these things that James, by the power of the Holy Spirit, considered her righteous.  So God, who inspired James to write this, never said Rahab’s lie was just—but instead it was her other actions. 

If this article has been a blessing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

Image from Presentation Library.