Contradiction with Exodus 8:22
God states that He will sever and protect the land of Goshen from the plague, contradicting the complete destruction described in Exodus 9:6.
Exodus 8:22: And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms [of flies] shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I [am] the LORD in the midst of the earth.
Contradiction with Exodus 9:3-4
God claims He will spare some of the cattle of the Israelites, but Exodus 9:6 states that all the cattle died.
Exodus 9:3-4: Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which [is] in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: [there shall be] a very grievous murrain.
Contradiction with Exodus 9:19-21
God warns Egyptians to bring cattle indoors to avoid dying from the hail, suggesting not all cattle died in Exodus 9:6.
Exodus 9:19-21: Send therefore now, [and] gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; [for upon] every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
Contradiction with Exodus 12:29
Later verses indicate that there are still firstborn cattle to die in the final plague, contradicting Exodus 9:6's notion of total death.
Exodus 12:29: And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. [dungeon: Heb. house of the pit]
Paradox #1
Exodus 9:6 might seem contradictory if one compares the idea that God is merciful and just with the actions described in the verse, where a severe plague affects livestock. Some may question how a merciful and loving deity could allow such widespread suffering. However, many theological interpretations suggest that these events serve a greater divine purpose within the narrative.
Paradox #2
The potential contradiction in this verse could arise from the idea of divine justice and fairness. Some might question why all the livestock of a nation were affected regardless of individual actions, raising issues about collective punishment and the suffering of innocent creatures. This could seem inconsistent with other parts of scripture that emphasize individual responsibility and justice.
Paradox #3
Exodus 9:6 describes a plague that strikes down all the livestock of the Egyptians. One potential historical inconsistency is that later in the Biblical narrative, more Egyptian animals are afflicted by subsequent plagues, implying that not all livestock could have been affected initially. This raises questions about the continuity and consistency of the narrative.
Paradox #4
Exodus 9:6 describes a plague that kills all the livestock of the Egyptians, but not those of the Israelites. A contradiction could arise from the fact that selective natural phenomena affecting only one group's animals while sparing another in adjacent areas is not observed in nature without some form of geographical or environmental barrier. The idea of such a selective large-scale event occurring simultaneously across one region while completely sparing the neighboring region lacks scientific explanation based on known natural occurrences.
Paradox #5
One possible contradiction in Exodus 9:6 could be the question of fairness and innocence. The verse describes a punishment where all the livestock of the Egyptians die, which raises issues about why animals, who are innocent and unaware, should suffer for human actions or decisions. This could be seen as inconsistent with the idea of a just and compassionate deity.