Contradiction with Genesis 6:6
This verse expresses God's regret and sorrow over the wickedness of humanity, contrary to the act of sending a plague as punishment.
Genesis 6:6: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Contradiction with Exodus 34:6-7
These verses emphasize God's mercy, graciousness, and slowness to anger, conflicting with the act of sudden and severe punishment.
Exodus 34:6-7: And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:23
This verse suggests that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, contrasting with the punitive action in 1 Chronicles 21:14.
Ezekiel 18:23: Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: [and] not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Contradiction with James 1:13
This verse states that God does not tempt anyone with evil, which contrasts with God allowing David's actions to lead to punishment.
James 1:13: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [evil: or, evils]
Contradiction with 1 John 4:8
Declares that God is love, which seems inconsistent with the act of causing widespread death.
1 John 4:8: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Paradox #1
1 Chronicles 21:14 presents a situation where God sends a plague on Israel. The potential doctrinal conflict could arise when comparing this event to the nature of God as loving and merciful. Some might see a contradiction between God's justice and His mercy, as the punishment seems severe. Additionally, comparing this account with others where God offers forgiveness and restoration without severe punishment might also present a perceived inconsistency in how God deals with sin.
Paradox #2
The contradiction lies in the account of David's census. In 1 Chronicles 21:14, a plague is sent as a punishment for David's actions. However, another account in 2 Samuel 24 attributes different details to the same event, such as who incited David to take the census. The differences between these accounts can cause confusion about the historical accuracy and consistency of the events described.
Paradox #3
The verse describes a plague affecting a large number of people in a very short time. A contradiction could be that diseases typically spread over a period of time and through specific mechanisms, rather than affecting tens of thousands simultaneously without an apparent cause. Therefore, this rapid and unexplained spread might not align with our understanding of infectious disease transmission.
Paradox #4
The contradiction could be the idea of collective punishment, where many people suffer for the actions of one individual. This raises ethical questions about justice and fairness, since it may seem unjust for innocents to face consequences for someone else's decision.