Contradiction with 1 Kings 5:13
2 Chronicles 2:17 states Solomon numbered all the strangers, while 1 Kings 5:13 states he levied a specific number of men, suggesting only Israelites were counted.
1 Kings 5:13: And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. [levy: Heb. tribute of men]
Contradiction with 2 Samuel 24:1
2 Chronicles 2:17 implies divine guidance in making the census, whereas 2 Samuel 24:1 describes God's anger for numbering Israel.
2 Samuel 24:1: And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
Contradiction with Exodus 30:12
2 Chronicles 2:17 mentions a census but does not reference required atonement money, contradicting the requirement in Exodus 30:12.
Exodus 30:12: When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when [thou] numberest them. [their number: Heb. them that are to be numbered]
Contradiction with Numbers 1:49
2 Chronicles 2:17 includes foreigners in the census work, while Numbers 1:49 excludes Levites from military census, showing exclusivity.
Numbers 1:49: Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Paradox #1
The contradiction about 2 Chronicles 2:17 relates to the differing numbers of foreign laborers mentioned in the Bible. In this verse, it says there were 153,600 foreigners, but in 1 Kings 5:15, a related account mentions 153,300. This inconsistency raises questions about the exact number of laborers used for Solomon's building projects.