Contradiction with Isaiah 11:8
In Isaiah 11:8, children play near snake holes without harm, while Genesis 49:17 portrays the serpent as dangerous.
Isaiah 11:8: And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. [cockatrice': or, adder's]
Contradiction with Luke 10:19
Luke 10:19 suggests protection from serpents, which contradicts the dangerous depiction in Genesis 49:17.
Luke 10:19: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Contradiction with Mark 16:18
Mark 16:18 implies that serpents won't harm believers, unlike the threat shown in Genesis 49:17.
Mark 16:18: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Paradox #1
The potential conflict with Genesis 49:17 could involve historical or interpretive challenges related to identifying the tribe it mentions with real historical peoples or events. Some might find it challenging to link the description to a specific historical role or event, as biblical tribes can be symbolic and not always clearly tied to historical records.
Paradox #2
The contradiction or inconsistency could lie in the idea of a chosen person or group that causes harm or makes life difficult for others. It raises questions about fairness and justice, as it seems to endorse negative actions while still being part of a larger, divinely sanctioned plan.