Contradiction with Exodus 32:14
Contradicts with the latter part of the chapter by showing God relenting from His anger, yet Moses enacts judgment.
Exodus 32:14: And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Contradiction with 1 Kings 12:28-29
Jeroboam makes golden calves and says, "These are your gods", seemingly tolerating idolatry unlike Moses' destruction of the calf.
1 Kings 12:28-29: Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Contradiction with Numbers 21:8-9
God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent for healing, which contrasts with destroying a golden image.
Numbers 21:8-9: And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Contradiction with 2 Kings 18:4
Hezekiah destroys the bronze serpent of Moses since it became an idol, similar to but delayed compared to the immediate destruction by Moses.
2 Kings 18:4: He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. [images: Heb. statues] [Nehushtan: that is, A piece of brass]
Paradox #1
Exodus 32:20 describes Moses destroying the golden calf and making the Israelites drink the water containing its remnants. A potential contradiction might involve the method of punishment and purification, as this action is unique and not clearly aligned with other prescribed rituals for atonement or punishment in the Bible. However, the act might be seen as symbolic rather than a ritualistic practice. This might lead to questions about consistency in the methods God uses to address idolatry and sin.
Paradox #2
Exodus 32:20 describes Moses destroying the golden calf and making the Israelites drink the water with its remnants. A possible doctrinal inconsistency might arise when comparing this to the concept of forgiveness and mercy elsewhere in the Bible. Some may see Moses's actions as harsh, contrasting with teachings of forgiveness. However, others interpret it as a necessary act of justice.
Paradox #3
The contradiction or inconsistency could be related to the practicality and feasibility of grinding the golden calf into powder, scattering it on water, and making the people drink it. This act may seem physically improbable or symbolic rather than literal, which could raise questions about its historical accuracy or the methods used during that time.
Paradox #4
The contradiction in this verse involves the act of grinding gold into a powder, mixing it with water, and making people drink it. Scientifically, gold is not soluble in water and cannot be digested in this way, which makes the described process inconsistent with chemical and physical principles.
Paradox #5
The contradiction in Exodus 32:20 could be seen in the act of Moses burning the golden calf, grinding it to powder, and making the Israelites drink it. This could be seen as conflicting because it involves a leader imposing a harsh punishment that might seem excessive or harmful to the people he is supposed to guide and protect.