Contradictions and Paradoxes in Exodus 23:10

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Exodus 23:10 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Exodus 23:10. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Moses, God told the people to work on their land and grow food for six years. After that, they should let the land rest for a year.

Exodus 23:10: And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

Contradiction with Leviticus 25:3-4

Leviticus 25:3-4 requires that the land be sown and reaped for six years, with no mention of leaving it fallow in the seventh year, which contrasts with the instruction in Exodus 23:10 to let the land rest.

Leviticus 25:3-4: Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

Contradiction with Joshua 5:12

Joshua 5:12 describes that once the Israelites ate the produce of Canaan, the manna stopped, which could imply a continuous harvesting, rather than intermittent resting periods for the land as suggested in Exodus 23:10.

Joshua 5:12: And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 20:19-20

These verses allow for the continual use of trees for building siegeworks during warfare, which contrasts with the notion of leaving land undisturbed every seventh year as in Exodus 23:10.

Deuteronomy 20:19-20: When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field [is] man's [life]) to employ [them] in the siege: [for the...: or, for, O man, the tree of the field is to be employed in the siege] [to employ...: Heb. to go from before thee]

Contradiction with Genesis 41:34-36

The directive to store up food during years of plenty for future famine implies a continuous cycle of planting and harvesting, unlike the sabbatical year rest prescribed in Exodus 23:10.

Genesis 41:34-36: Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. [officers: or, overseers]

Contradiction with 2 Kings 19:29

This verse promises that the people will eat what grows of itself on the second and third years, which contrasts with the command in Exodus 23:10 to cease working the land every seventh year.

2 Kings 19:29: And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

Paradox #1

Exodus 23:10 talks about letting the land rest every seventh year. A possible contradiction here could be if people depend on the land for their livelihood, they might struggle with no harvest in that seventh year. The moral conflict arises between the command to give the land a rest and the immediate needs of people relying on it for survival.

Disclaimer: The content provided at PolarBible.com is for educational purposes only. Readers have the full right to agree or disagree with the interpretations and conclusions presented. We take no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken based on the information shared as Polar Verses.