Contradiction with 1 Chronicles 20:5
This verse states that Elhanan killed Goliath, which contradicts the account of David killing Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:4.
1 Chronicles 20:5: And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff [was] like a weaver's beam. [Jair: also called, Jaareoregim]
Paradox #1
The contradiction regarding 1 Samuel 17:4 is about the height of Goliath. In some ancient manuscripts, like the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint, Goliath's height is recorded as "four cubits and a span," roughly 6 feet 9 inches, while the Masoretic Text, another ancient manuscript tradition, says he was "six cubits and a span," about 9 feet 9 inches. This inconsistency raises questions about which measurement is accurate.
Paradox #2
The verse might mention someone's height as being extremely tall by today's standards. People often debate if the measurements were literal or symbolic since some scholars believe the height described is unlikely for humans based on historical or biological evidence.
Paradox #3
One potential contradiction regarding 1 Samuel 17:4 could involve the differing accounts of Goliath's height in various ancient texts. While the Masoretic Text states that Goliath was "six cubits and a span" tall (around 9 feet 9 inches), the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint report his height as "four cubits and a span" (about 6 feet 9 inches). This discrepancy in measurements might lead to confusion or debate about the actual height of Goliath.