Contradiction with Exodus 4:20
It states that Moses took his wife and sons back to Egypt, which raises questions about when she was sent away.
Exodus 4:20: And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
Contradiction with Numbers 12:1
This suggests that Moses' wife was Ethiopian, contradicting the Midianite identity referenced in Exodus 18.
Numbers 12:1: And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. [Ethiopian: or, Cushite] [married: Heb. taken]
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 34:5-6
Discusses the death of Moses without mention of his family being with him, which might suggest differing contexts or circumstances involving his family.
Deuteronomy 34:5-6: So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Contradiction with Acts 7:29
Stephen mentions Moses fleeing and living in Midian, focusing on exile rather than family reunions as seen in Exodus 18.
Acts 7:29: Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
Contradiction with Exodus 2:21-22
Indicates Moses settled in Midian with his wife and had children, but does not mention her being sent away or returned as described in Exodus 18.
Exodus 2:21-22: And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
Paradox #1
Exodus 18:2 states that Moses's father-in-law, Jethro, took back Moses's wife, Zipporah, after she had been sent away. One possible contradiction or conflict arises because the Bible does not clearly explain when or why Zipporah was sent away in earlier chapters, leading to confusion and differing interpretations about the sequence of events in Moses's life.