Contradiction with 1 Chronicles 21:15
This verse mentions the same event but with slight variances, such as the name "Araunah" in Samuel being "Ornan" here, illustrating discrepancies in names and details in parallel accounts.
1 Chronicles 21:15: And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. [Ornan: also called, Araunah]
Paradox #1
The contradiction or conflict in 2 Samuel 24:16 could relate to the depiction of God changing His mind or relenting. In some theological understandings, God is seen as unchanging and not influenced by human actions, which might seem inconsistent with the idea of God relenting or altering a decision. This can lead to questions about God's nature in terms of immutability and divine sovereignty.
Paradox #2
The contradiction or inconsistency often discussed regarding this verse relates to differences in the account of a similar event in 1 Chronicles 21:15. In 2 Samuel, it says the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, but God relented. Meanwhile, 1 Chronicles mentions that the exact circumstances differ, such as who incited David to take the census that led to this event. These differences raise questions about why the two accounts are not identical.
Paradox #3
The moral conflict in this verse can arise from the depiction of God both sending an angel to destroy Jerusalem and then relenting by asking the angel to stop the destruction. This might seem contradictory because it shows God as both initiating punishment and then deciding to show mercy, raising questions about consistency in divine justice and benevolence.
Paradox #4
The contradiction in "2 Samuel 24:16" could be related to the differing accounts of the number of people affected or events surrounding the census conducted by David. This contradiction arises when comparing this verse with other biblical passages that detail the same event but provide different figures or descriptions, such as in "1 Chronicles 21". It highlights the variations in the biblical text regarding numbers and specific actions taken.