Contradiction with Exodus 20:3-5
These verses command the Israelites to have no other gods or graven images, while 2 Kings 16:10 describes King Ahaz adopting a foreign altar design for worship.
Exodus 20:3-5: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 12:4
This verse instructs the Israelites not to worship the Lord in the way that other nations worship their gods, whereas 2 Kings 16:10 describes Ahaz modeling an altar after what he saw in Damascus.
Deuteronomy 12:4: Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 12:13-14
These verses specify that offerings should be made only at the designated place chosen by God, not according to foreign designs as Ahaz did in 2 Kings 16:10.
Deuteronomy 12:13-14: Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:
Contradiction with 2 Chronicles 28:24-25
These verses state that Ahaz shut the doors of the Lord's temple and made altars at every street corner, contradicting the centralized worship prescribed in 2 Kings 16:10.
2 Chronicles 28:24-25: And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
Contradiction with Isaiah 8:19-20
These verses warn against seeking guidance outside the word of God, while 2 Kings 16:10 narrates Ahaz seeking foreign religious inspiration.
Isaiah 8:19-20: And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Contradiction with Leviticus 26:1
This verse explicitly prohibits making idols or setting up an engraved stone to bow down to it, whereas 2 Kings 16:10 shows Ahaz replicating a foreign altar.
Leviticus 26:1: Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God. [standing...: or, pillar] [image of...: or, figured stone: Heb. a stone of picture]
Paradox #1
In 2 Kings 16:10, the passage describes King Ahaz visiting Damascus and seeing an altar that he liked, then sending a model of it to Jerusalem for a replica to be made. The contradiction or inconsistency might arise because this act signifies Ahaz's alignment with foreign religious practices, which conflicts with the traditional worship prescribed for the Israelites. This could be seen as a deviation from the exclusive worship of Yahweh. However, this is more of a theological inconsistency rather than a historical one, as it deals with religious fidelity.
Paradox #2
The contradiction in 2 Kings 16:10 could be that King Ahaz, a leader of God's people, is seen adopting the religious practices and altar designs of another nation that did not worship God. This action could be seen as inconsistent with the expectation that he should remain faithful to his own religious traditions and the God of Israel.