Contradictions and Paradoxes in Joshua 13:4

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Joshua 13:4 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Joshua 13:4. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of the book of Joshua, God was telling Joshua about the lands that still needed to be taken by the Israelites. These lands belonged to different groups of people, like the Canaanites and the Amorites, and God wanted the Israelites to know about them.

Joshua 13:4: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that [is] beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: [Mearah: or, the cave]

Contradiction with Joshua 11:23

Joshua 11:23 states that Joshua took the entire land and gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions, contradicting Joshua 13:4, which talks about lands still remaining to be possessed.

Joshua 11:23: So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Contradiction with Joshua 13:1

Joshua 13:1 mentions that there remains very much land to be possessed, contradicting Joshua 13:4 by emphasizing incomplete conquests while suggesting the task isn't fully complete in verse 4.

Joshua 13:1: Now Joshua was old [and] stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old [and] stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. [to...: Heb. to possess it]

Contradiction with Joshua 21:43

Joshua 21:43 expresses that the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it, contrary to Joshua 13:4 where regions still remain to be taken.

Joshua 21:43: And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

Contradiction with Judges 1:28

Judges 1:28 indicates that when Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely, contrasting with Joshua 13:4 where the remaining land for inheritance is suggested.

Judges 1:28: And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

Contradiction with Nehemiah 9:8

Nehemiah 9:8 states that God performed His promise and gave the land to the descendants, seemingly contradicting the idea in Joshua 13:4 of lands still needing to be possessed.

Nehemiah 9:8: And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give [it, I say], to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou [art] righteous:
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