Contradictions and Paradoxes in 1 Samuel 5:3

Check out Contradictions Catalog of 1 Samuel 5:3 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts 1 Samuel 5:3. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of 1 Samuel, the people found their statue of the god Dagon fallen over in front of the special box called the Ark of the Lord, showing that their god was not as strong as the God of Israel. They stood the statue back up, but it was a sign that their god couldn't stand against God's power.

1 Samuel 5:3: And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

Contradiction with Exodus 20:3

This verse commands worship of no other gods, contradicting 1 Samuel 5:3, where the image of Dagon is of significance to the Philistines.

Exodus 20:3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Contradiction with Isaiah 42:8

This verse states that God will not give His glory to another or His praise to idols, contradicting the reverence shown to Dagon's statue in 1 Samuel 5:3.

Isaiah 42:8: I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Contradiction with Jeremiah 10:5

This verse describes idols as powerless and unable to move on their own, contrasting with the movement of the idol in 1 Samuel 5:3.

Jeremiah 10:5: They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.

Contradiction with Psalm 115:4-7

These verses talk about the impotency of idols, contradicting the implied presence and power of Dagon in the 1 Samuel 5:3 narrative.

Psalm 115:4-7: Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 12:3

This verse commands the destruction of pagan gods' images, which contrasts with the continued presence of Dagon's statue in 1 Samuel 5:3.

Deuteronomy 12:3: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. [overthrow: Heb. break down]
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