Contradiction with Numbers 26:59
This verse mentions Jochebed as the daughter of Levi who was born to Levi in Egypt, which suggests a potential generational discrepancy with Exodus 6:20 if Amram and Jochebed are both considered immediate children of Levi.
Numbers 26:59: And the name of Amram's wife [was] Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom [her mother] bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
Contradiction with Genesis 46:11
Lists the sons of Levi, which could conflict with the timeline and generational understanding if Amram is considered a direct son of Levi.
Genesis 46:11: And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. [Gershon: or, Gershom]
Contradiction with 1 Chronicles 6:1-3
This genealogy presents different generational connections, suggesting a discrepancy in the direct lineage stated in Exodus 6:20.
1 Chronicles 6:1-3: The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. [Gershon: or, Gershom]
Contradiction with Exodus 2:1-2
Suggests a timeline inconsistency regarding when Amram and Jochebed had their children, potentially creating a contradiction with genealogies.
Exodus 2:1-2: And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took [to wife] a daughter of Levi.
Paradox #1
There is a potential issue of incest because in this verse, Amram marries his aunt Jochebed. While this wasn't uncommon in the early biblical context, later laws in the Bible prohibit such close familial marriages, which can be seen as inconsistent.
Paradox #2
The contradiction involves Amram's life span. Exodus 6:20 mentions that Amram, the father of Moses, lived to be 137 years old. However, when you calculate the generations and timelines elsewhere in the Bible, it can be difficult to reconcile how the Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years while Amram's genealogy seems too short to cover that period. This raises questions about the consistency of the genealogical timeline.
Paradox #3
Exodus 6:20 mentions Amram and Jochebed as the parents of Moses. A potential scientific inconsistency here might relate to genealogical timelines. If we consider the ages and generations described elsewhere in the Bible, the overlap between Amram, Levi (his ancestor), and Moses could appear inconsistent with typical generational timelines seen in human biology. However, these accounts are often understood within the context of religious texts and traditions, not scientific genealogy. Therefore, the inconsistency is more about narrative timelines rather than a direct contradiction.
Paradox #4
Exodus 6:20 mentions a man marrying his aunt, which could be seen as a contradiction or inconsistency because other parts of the Bible later prohibit close family marriages. This could create confusion about what is considered acceptable or righteous behavior.
Paradox #5
Exodus 6:20 mentions the ages of generations, and some people find numerical inconsistencies when trying to match these with timelines provided in other parts of the Bible. Specifically, it suggests that the generations between Levi and Moses are very short, given the span of 400 years the Israelites were in Egypt. This seems to conflict with other genealogical accounts.