Contradiction with 1 Samuel 16:18
Describes David as a mighty valiant man and a man of war, whereas 1 Samuel 17:23 portrays him as a young shepherd boy.
1 Samuel 16:18: Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him. [matters: or, speech]
Contradiction with 1 Samuel 17:33
Saul describes David as a youth who is inexperienced in battle, contrasting the description in 1 Samuel 17:23 where David confidently confronts Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:33: And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
Contradiction with 2 Samuel 21:19
Suggests that Elhanan killed Goliath, contradicting the account in 1 Samuel 17:23 where David is the one who confronts and kills Goliath.
2 Samuel 21:19: And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew [the brother of] Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam. [Jaareoregim: or, Jair]
Paradox #1
1 Samuel 17:23 might seem inconsistent when compared to other verses surrounding the story of David and Goliath. In some parts of the Bible, David is depicted as already being familiar to Saul before the battle with Goliath, while in others, such as this part, Saul does not seem to recognize David. This can create confusion about the timeline and continuity of David's introduction to Saul.