HOW MANY CHILDREN DID MICHAL (THE DAUGHTER OF SAUL) HAVE?

The Contradiction

(KJV) Contradiction 1: Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children. 2 Samuel 6:23

(KJV) Contradiction 1: ...And the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul... 2 Samuel 21:8

The Answer

The key to answering this supposed contradiction is simple if you read all of verse 8 in 2 Samuel 21.

2 Samuel 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

2 Samuel 21:8 lets us know that Michal raised Adriel's children who were most likely also her sister Merab's children (*Due to the fact the the sons of Adriel are considered descendants of Saul).

1 Samuel 18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

2 Samuel 6:23 let us know that Michal, the wife of David never bare any children. Then 2 Samuel 21:8 let us know that she did in fact help raise the children of her brother-in-law, Adriel. This is additional information about Michal given to us from God and is no contradiction.

What does the phrase "Brought Up" mean?

If we look at other places that the KJV Bible uses the phrase "brought up" it is clear that it does not deteremine genetic paternity but rather who spent the time raising/instructing the children/subject, which could be the biological parents or someone else. Consider the following:

*See also 2 Kings 10:1-5 - for a definition of "brought up" - who are the people that brought up the children for Ahab?

*Proof Brought Up doesn't mean to bare - definition in 2 Chronicles 8:11 - Did Soloman give birth to his wife?

*Proof Brought Up doesn't mean to bare - definition in 2 Chronicles 10:8 - Rehoboam's friends or brothers?

*Isaiah 49:21 uses both begotten and brought up to mean different things.

*Isaiah 51:18 uses both begotten and brought up to mean different things.

*Jeremiah 23:7, Amos 9:7 - constantly the bible describes The Lord who brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt but we know that not all of them believed and were begotten by him thus proving the difference between brought up and begotten.

Luke 4:16 - Was Jesus born in Nazareth? or Brought up in Nazareth (Galilee) or born in Nazareth? (Bethlehem) (Matthew 2:19-23 - Jesus as a young child was taken from Egypt to Galilee) John 7:52 - They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.)

Acts 22:3 - Paul brought up by Gamaliel

What about the Hebrew?

This should be enough, but for those "Hebrew Scholars" that hate God's preserved word in English (KJV Bible), we must consider the textual criticism problems too.

There are many examples shown above that the KJV Bible is consistent in its definition of the phrase "brought up", which provides no contradiction with the fact that the Bible says that Michal bear no children yet helped raise her brother-in-law's sons. Yet, the "Hebrew Scholars" will point to the fact that the underlying Hebrew word translated into English as "brought up" in 2 Samuel 21:8 is the word YALAD, which most if not all lexicons will provide the definition of "to bear". Now we have a problem, is the lexicon the inspired word of God or not? Well, if we say that because the lexicon only provides a definition of "to bear", then also in Genesis 50:23 where the Hebrew word YALAD is used we would have to say that Joseph's grandchildren were literally born on Joseph's knees. I am not a medical professional but I think it would be FOOLISH to believe that all of his Joseph's wives were laid across his lap while they gave birth. I believe most people can realize that the lexicon is wrong by not providing the alternative definition of "brought up", which would then easily provide no contradiction in the KJV Bible nor ruin Genesis 50:23.

Genesis 50:23 - YALAD (*Hebrew) brought up on Joseph's knees or born on?

Romans 3:3-4
3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

In response to The Divine Evidence