Contradiction with Exodus 34:28
While Deuteronomy 9:9 states Moses neither ate bread nor drank water, Exodus 34:28 reflects this same fasting period, so there isn't an explicit contradiction, but rather a similar account.
Exodus 34:28: And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. [commandments: Heb. words]
Contradiction with 1 Kings 19:8
Elijah also went without food for forty days and forty nights, similar to Moses, but the context and purpose of the fasting differ, highlighting different narratives within similar durations, not direct contradiction.
1 Kings 19:8: And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Contradiction with Matthew 4:2
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights, comparable to Moses, with a similar narrative but set in different contexts, illustrating similar divine experiences without direct contradiction.
Matthew 4:2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Paradox #1
Deuteronomy 9:9 mentions Moses fasting for forty days and nights without food or water. A potential contradiction could be the impossibility from a human perspective of surviving for that long without water, as it contradicts natural human limits. This could raise questions about the literal interpretation versus seeing it as a miraculous event.
Paradox #2
Deuteronomy 9:9 describes Moses fasting for 40 days and nights. A possible contradiction or inconsistency might arise when comparing this with other parts of the Bible where humans are depicted as requiring food and water to survive. Sustaining such a long fast without food or water could be seen as humanly impossible, leading to questions about the literal versus symbolic interpretation of such events.
Paradox #3
One potential contradiction in Deuteronomy 9:9 is related to the duration of Moses' fast, as other parts of the Bible mention Moses fasting for the same amount of time, but under slightly different circumstances. Additionally, the Bible describes Moses going up the mountain and fasting more than once, which can create confusion about the timeline and events associated with these fasts. This can lead to questions about how these stories align with each other.