Inquiry:
Who were Saul’s sons? 1 Samuel 14:4 lists them as Jonathan, Ishui, and Malchishua, but 1 Chronicles 8:33 & 9:39 list them as Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
There are definitely some differences between the list of Saul’s sons in 1 Samuel 14 as compared with the list in 1 Chronicles 8 & 9. Let us note what the differences are, and see whether they are indeed contradictory or if there is an explanation for them.
To begin with, as we count the number of sons listed, we see 4 in the Chronicles list, but only 3 in the list given by Samuel. This can easily be reconciled if we understand the timing of these two records. 1 Samuel 14 is at the beginning of Saul’s reign. It perhaps lists the sons whom he had at that time – 3 sons in all. 1 Chronicles begins with a geanological review. The first historical event in the record is the death of Saul and his sons as they made war against the Philistines (1 Chronicles 10). By this time, all of Saul’s children would have been born, and thus four, not three sons are listed. In the record of their death (1 Chronicles 10:2), his son Ishbosheth is not listed, for he did not die in the battle.
Jonathan and Malchishua are listed in all three texts given. Both 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 list the other sons as Abinadab and Esh-Baal. In 1 Samuel, it appears that Abinadab was called Jishui. Ishbo-sheth, who did not die in battle, is otherwise called Esh-Baal.
Why were these known by different names? I do not know. But there are many examples in the Bible of an individual having multiple names (ie. Simon, Peter, Cephas). We do the same today. Folks will call me William, or Bill, or Will, or James (my middle name). Some even call me by my last name. All are different names, all are valid names which I answer to.
There is no contradiction.
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