Contradictions and Paradoxes in 1 Samuel 13:21

Check out Contradictions Catalog of 1 Samuel 13:21 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts 1 Samuel 13:21. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of 1 Samuel, the people used a special tool, like a sharpener, to make their farming tools better and ready to use. This shows how important it was to keep their tools in good shape for their work.

1 Samuel 13:21: Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. [a file: Heb. a file with mouths, or Heb. a pim, a third of a shekel] [sharpen: Heb. set]

Contradiction with Exodus 20:15

"Thou shalt not steal." contrasts with 1 Samuel 13:21 where the high price of tools can be seen as exploitative, opposing the principle of fairness.

Exodus 20:15: Thou shalt not steal.

Contradiction with 2 Samuel 24:24

David insists on paying full price, contrasting with 1 Samuel 13:21's implication of the Philistines controlling or inflating prices.

2 Samuel 24:24: And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Contradiction with Proverbs 11:1

"A false balance is abomination to the Lord" contradicts economic exploitation implied in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Proverbs 11:1: A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight. [A false...: Heb. Balances of deceit] [just...: Heb. perfect stone]

Contradiction with Leviticus 19:36

Calls for honest weights and measures, contrasting with possible unjust valuations in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Leviticus 19:36: Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. [weights: Heb. stones]

Paradox #1

1 Samuel 13:21 has a complex issue with how it's often translated and understood. The main challenge is with the wording related to the tools and their sharpening methods, which can lead to confusion about what was actually happening during that time. The statements might seem inconsistent with the broader narrative or other historical contexts if not clearly interpreted.

Paradox #2

The contradiction in 1 Samuel 13:21 is related to the presence of iron tools and metalworking technology. The verse suggests Hebrews relied on Philistines to sharpen their metal tools, implying a lack of metalworking capabilities. However, other parts of the Bible and archaeological evidence show that Israelites did have metalworking skills, creating inconsistency regarding their technological development at that time.

Paradox #3

There might be a numerical inconsistency in some translations of 1 Samuel 13:21 regarding the cost of sharpening tools. Some versions mention the price as "two-thirds of a shekel," while others don't specify a clear amount. This difference can lead to confusion about the precise cost mentioned in the verse.

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