Some argue that the Bible is contradictory concerning whether Coniah, or Jechoniah, had children. The argument is that Jeremiah 22:28-30 says that he did not have children, but Matthew 1:12 says that he did have children. However, the answer to this alleged contradiction in the Bible is very simple.
28 Is this man Coniah a despised, broken pot, a vessel no one cares for? Why are he and his children hurled and cast into a land that they do not know? 29 O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord! 30 Thus says the Lord: “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.”
Jeremiah 22:28-30
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Matthew 1:12
Coniah and Jeconiah are two different names for the same person.
The answer to the alleged contradiction is found in the context of Jeremiah 22:28-30, which says that “none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.” Jeremiah 22:28-30 says ”’count”’ Coniah as childless, since none of his children will sit on the throne. It does not say that Coniah did not have any children at all—according to Matthew 1:12, he did have at least one son.
There are some foundational principles that apply to all alleged and apparent contradictions in the Bible. To read more, see Bible Difficulties: Foundational Principles.
To read more answers to alleged and apparent contradictions in the Bible, see “Contradictions” in the Bible Answered.
These books are also excellent resources:
Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World - Josh and Sean McDowell
Little Pilgrim's Progress (Illustrated Edition) - Helen L. Taylor