Contradictions and Paradoxes in 1 Samuel 17:51

Check out Contradictions Catalog of 1 Samuel 17:51 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts 1 Samuel 17:51. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the story, David was very brave and trusted God, so he was able to defeat the giant, Goliath, and this made the enemy soldiers very scared and they ran away.

1 Samuel 17:51: Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

Contradiction with 2 Samuel 21:19

States that Elhanan killed Goliath, contradicting the account in 1 Samuel 17:51 where David 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

One potential contradiction is that earlier in 1 Samuel 17, it is mentioned that David killed Goliath with a sling and a stone, while later it describes him cutting off Goliath's head with a sword. This can seem like inconsistent details about how Goliath was killed.

Paradox #2

The contradiction in that passage could be the idea of violence being justified or celebrated. It highlights a situation where defeating an enemy with lethal force is seen as a victory or righteousness, which may conflict with values of peace and non-violence.

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