Contradiction with Exodus 24:12
God instructed Moses to come up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone with the law and commandments, implying that Moses did not write them himself.
Exodus 24:12: And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
Contradiction with Exodus 31:18
States that God gave Moses the tablets of stone written with the finger of God, suggesting divine not human authorship.
Exodus 31:18: And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 10:1-2
God tells Moses to make a new set of tablets and that God will write on them, implying that Moses writing the tablets himself contradicts this narrative.
Deuteronomy 10:1-2: At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
Paradox #1
One possible contradiction in Exodus 34:28 relates to the description of the Ten Commandments being written. In this verse, it states that God wrote the commandments on the tablets, while in Exodus 34:27, it mentions that Moses wrote them down. This could lead to confusion or inconsistency about who actually wrote the commandments.
Paradox #2
Exodus 34:28 mentions that Moses was with the Lord for 40 days and nights and that he wrote the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments, on tablets. A potential doctrinal inconsistency arises when considering Deuteronomy 10:1-4, where it is mentioned that God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments on the new tablets. This could lead to confusion about who actually wrote them—Moses or God.
Paradox #3
Exodus 34:28 mentions Moses writing the Ten Commandments, but earlier in Exodus 31:18, it says that God wrote them. This creates a contradiction about who actually wrote the commandments.
Paradox #4
Exodus 34:28 describes Moses fasting for 40 days and nights without eating bread or drinking water. Scientifically, humans can survive for a few weeks without food but typically only a few days without water, due to dehydration. The verse suggests a supernatural event, which contradicts what is commonly understood about human biology and survival.
Paradox #5
The contradiction might stem from the context of the verse where Moses receives the Ten Commandments from God, yet earlier in the Bible, it is shown that the Israelites struggle with consistently following these laws. This could be seen as inconsistent because the rules are given with divine authority, but human nature and circumstances lead to repeated failure in adhering to them. Additionally, some might view the exclusivity and strictness of these commandments in contrast to themes of forgiveness and mercy found elsewhere in the Bible as a potential conflict.
Paradox #6
The contradiction in Exodus 34:28 arises from different accounts of the number of days and nights Moses spent on the mountain. In other parts of the Bible, such as Deuteronomy 9:9, the same event is described with a slightly different emphasis, which can lead to confusion or perceived inconsistency regarding the total number of days and nights mentioned.