Contradictions and Paradoxes in Joshua 16:4

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Joshua 16:4 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Joshua 16:4. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of the book of Joshua, this verse tells us that the children of Joseph, named Manasseh and Ephraim, got the land that was promised to them. This means they received a special gift of land for their families to live on.

Joshua 16:4: So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

Contradiction with Joshua 11:23

This verse states that Joshua took the whole land and gave it as an inheritance to Israel, which could contradict the specificity of inheritance to the children of Joseph in Joshua 16:4.

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 Judges 1:27

This verse explains that the tribe of Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants, suggesting incomplete possession, contrasting with Joshua 16:4 which implies settled inheritance.

Judges 1:27: Neither did Manasseh drive out [the inhabitants of] Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Contradiction with Joshua 13:1

This verse mentions that much land remained to be possessed, which contrasts the completed distribution indicated in Joshua 16:4.

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 18:3

This asks why certain tribes have not taken possession of their allotted land, which could contradict the full inheritance claimed in Joshua 16:4.

Joshua 18:3: And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long [are] ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?

Contradiction with Joshua 17:12

States the children of Manasseh couldn't drive out inhabitants, contrasting with the idea of receiving full inheritance in Joshua 16:4.

Joshua 17:12: Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
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