Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:9
Explains that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, which contrasts with Deuteronomy 1:39 suggesting children not knowing good or evil.
Jeremiah 17:9: The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Contradiction with Romans 3:23
Indicates that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, conflicting with the idea in Deuteronomy 1:39 that children do not have knowledge of good and evil.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Paradox #1
Deuteronomy 1:39 is sometimes seen as having a tension with the broader biblical theme of inherited sin and accountability. The verse suggests that children, due to their lack of knowledge of good and evil, are not held accountable for certain actions. This can be seen as contradictory to the idea that all humans inherit sin from birth, as mentioned in other parts of the Bible. This raises questions about at what point individuals are deemed accountable for their actions and how original sin is understood in relation to innocence.
Paradox #2
Deuteronomy 1:39 refers to innocent children entering the promised land because they don't know right from wrong. A possible conflict could be that elsewhere in the Bible, like in Exodus 20, children may face consequences for their parents' sins, which seems inconsistent with the idea of their innocence here.
Paradox #3
This verse suggests that children are innocent and not aware of good and evil, thus not accountable for certain actions. The moral conflict could arise in considering how this principle is applied elsewhere in religious teachings, especially concerning accountability, sin, and the age at which individuals are deemed responsible for their actions. Some might see inconsistency in how innocence or awareness impacts moral and spiritual responsibility across different contexts.