Contradictions and Paradoxes in Deuteronomy 19:5

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Deuteronomy 19:5 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Deuteronomy 19:5. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Moses, if someone accidentally hurts another person while chopping wood and that person dies, the one who did it can run to a special city to stay safe. This is because it wasn't done on purpose, and they need a place to be protected until things are sorted out.

Deuteronomy 19:5: As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: [head: Heb. iron] [helve: Heb. wood] [lighteth...: Heb. findeth]

Contradiction with Exodus 21:12

This verse states that anyone who smites a man and causes his death shall surely be put to death, which contradicts the allowance for accidental killings in Deuteronomy 19:5.

Exodus 21:12: He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.

Contradiction with Numbers 35:16

This verse dictates that if a person strikes someone with an iron object and causes death, they are considered a murderer and should be put to death, contrasting with the protection offered to accidental killers in Deuteronomy 19:5.

Numbers 35:16: And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he [is] a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Contradiction with Numbers 35:19

The verse states that the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet, which opposes the provision in Deuteronomy 19:5 for cities of refuge for accidental killers.

Numbers 35:19: The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

Contradiction with Leviticus 24:17

This verse mandates that anyone who kills any man shall surely be put to death, without differentiating between accidental and intentional killing, unlike Deuteronomy 19:5.

Leviticus 24:17: And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. [killeth...: Heb. smiteth the life of a man]

Paradox #1

This verse discusses accidental harm, specifically providing refuge for someone who accidentally causes another person's death. The moral conflict could be that while the verse offers protection for unintentional actions, it might seem inconsistent with other laws that demand strict punishment for taking a life. This can create tension between mercy for accidents and justice for victims.

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