Contradiction with 1 Chronicles 21:13
While 2 Samuel 24:14 emphasizes David's preference to fall into God's merciful hands rather than human hands, 1 Chronicles 21:13 portrays a similar sentiment that aligns closely, rather than contradicting, thus no direct contradiction found between these passages.
1 Chronicles 21:13: And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great [are] his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. [very great: or, very many]
Paradox #1
This verse might be seen as inconsistent with the idea of a merciful God, as David chooses to fall into God's hands rather than human hands due to God's great mercy, but still anticipates severe consequences. This raises questions about the nature and extent of God's mercy versus His judgment.
Paradox #2
The contradiction in this verse could be seen in the tension between divine mercy and punishment. On one hand, God is depicted as merciful, but on the other hand, a severe punishment follows, affecting many innocent people. This can be confusing because it raises questions about why a merciful God would allow such widespread suffering, creating a conflict between the ideas of mercy and justice.