Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:20
This verse states that the soul who sins shall die, suggesting individual responsibility for sin, whereas in 1 Samuel 14:45, the people rescue Jonathan from death despite his disobedience.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Contradiction with Proverbs 21:3
This verse emphasizes doing justice and judgment as more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice, potentially contrasting with the people's decision to prioritize saving Jonathan over executing judgment.
Proverbs 21:3: To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Contradiction with Romans 6:23
This verse says the wages of sin is death, which contrasts with the idea that Jonathan is spared from death despite having sinned according to Saul's oath.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paradox #1
1 Samuel 14:45 shows a conflict between Saul's oath and the people's intervention, where they save Jonathan despite Saul's command. This could suggest tension between a leader's authority and the people's perspective of justice or God's will. This raises questions about the nature of divine authority versus human decision-making.
Paradox #2
The contradiction in this context could be seen as the tension between following laws or commands and showing mercy or justice. The people decide to save Jonathan despite a command that could lead to his punishment. This highlights a potential conflict between strict adherence to rules and acting with compassion or fairness based on circumstances.