Why are there number contradictions in the bible?
1. It’s OK for one place to use a round number and another place to be more specific. 2. Sometimes one number includes different things. If you read the surrounding text, it will say something like a number including the parents or something and the other place won’t include the parents. This is OK and not a contradiction. 3. An error in the copy does not mean that there was an error in the original. We have many early copies that agree well, but there are a few differences. We know that the copies are really quite well for being an ancient document, but we don’t have the originals. It’s my understanding that large numbers are hard to copy in ancient Hebrew, so it’s possible to make a mistake. The general theme of the story is basically unchanged though. Some newer translations compare the number contradictions, fix an obvious copy error and note it in the margin. I’ve noticed that NIV does this. As far as Abram lying. God does not necessarily approve of all that the Bible records. God
