Contradiction with Nehemiah 7:39
The number of priests is given as 973 in Nehemiah, but Ezra 2:36 lists them as 4,289, showing a numerical discrepancy.
Nehemiah 7:39: The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
Paradox #1
Ezra 2:36 lists the number of priests returning from exile, which may not match the numbers or names in the parallel account found in Nehemiah 7. This inconsistency in numbers or names is often noted as a historical discrepancy.