The Bible retells its narratives and themes from different perspectives, so read more chapters and books to understand.
Genesis
Genesis 1 & Genesis 2
Differences:
- Man predates plants? - In Genesis 1, plants were day 3, and man was day 6. || In Genesis 2, man was formed "when no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up." (Genesis 1:11-13, 1:26-31 vs. Genesis 2:5-7)
- Man predates beasts? - In Genesis 1, animals were spoken into existence before man on day 6. || In Genesis 2, it mentions God's intention to make a helper fit for man and His forming every beast out of the ground to present to him after He had formed the man. (Genesis 1:24-27 vs. Genesis 2:7; Genesis 2:18-20)
2 Samuel
2 Samuel 24:1-9 & 1 Chronicles 21:1-6: King David's census.
Differences:
- The anger of the Lord or Satan? - "Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them," vs "Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel."
- 1 Chronicles includes Joab's line, "Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?"
- 2 Samuel includes more detail about the path Joab took.
- 2 Samuel includes the duration: nine months and twenty days.
- Census numbers - "In Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000." vs "In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword."
- 1 Chronicles includes Joab's refusal to number Levi and Benjamin, as the king's command was abhorrent to him.