Contradictions and Paradoxes in Deuteronomy 23:7

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Deuteronomy 23:7 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Deuteronomy 23:7. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Moses, God tells his people not to hate the Edomites and Egyptians. God wants them to remember that the Edomites are like family, and they were once guests in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 23:7: Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he [is] thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 23:3

States that Ammonites and Moabites shall not enter the congregation of the Lord, which contrasts with the command not to abhor Edomites in Deuteronomy 23:7.

Deuteronomy 23:3: An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

Contradiction with Ezra 9:1

Describes the Israelites as being forbidden to intermarry with various nations, including Edomites, which contrasts with the instruction not to abhor Edomites in Deuteronomy 23:7.

Ezra 9:1: Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Contradiction with Nehemiah 13:1

Reiterates the command that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, which contrasts the kinship acknowledgment of Edomites in Deuteronomy 23:7.

Nehemiah 13:1: On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; [they...: Heb. there was read] [audience: Heb. ears]

Paradox #1

Deuteronomy 23:7 advises not to despise the Edomites or the Egyptians. This can seem inconsistent with other parts of the Old Testament where these groups are sometimes portrayed as adversaries of the Israelites. The contradiction lies in the instruction to maintain a respectful relationship with nations that, in other contexts, are seen as enemies.

Paradox #2

Deuteronomy 23:7 advises not to despise Edomites and Egyptians, which might seem inconsistent with other parts of the Bible that describe conflicts and tensions with these groups. This could create confusion about the proper attitude towards them.

Paradox #3

The potential contradiction in Deuteronomy 23:7 might be the directive to not despise certain groups, which could conflict with other parts of the Bible that instruct different or harsher treatments towards those same groups or others. This discrepancy could be seen as inconsistent in the overall message about how to treat outsiders or different communities.

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