Contradictions and Paradoxes in Joshua 4:3

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Joshua 4:3 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Joshua 4:3. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Joshua, God wanted the people to pick up twelve stones from the river where the priests were standing. These stones were to remind everyone of the special day when God helped them cross the river safely.

Joshua 4:3: And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.

Contradiction with Exodus 20:25

This verse instructs not to use tools on stones for altars, while Joshua 4:3 involves using stones as a memorial, possibly implying craftsmanship.

Exodus 20:25: And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. [build...: Heb. build them with hewing]

Contradiction with Isaiah 57:8

This verse discusses setting up a memorial behind doors, against the open commemoration intended in Joshua 4:3.

Isaiah 57:8: Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it]. [made...: or, hewed it for thyself larger than theirs] [where...: or, thou providedst room]

Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:1

Here, sin is engraved on stone, contrasting with the positive memorial aspect of the stones in Joshua 4:3.

Jeremiah 17:1: The sin of Judah [is] written with a pen of iron, [and] with the point of a diamond: [it is] graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; [point: Heb. nail]

Contradiction with Ezekiel 21:21

This verse uses stones for divination, opposing the memorial purpose in Joshua 4:3.

Ezekiel 21:21: For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made [his] arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. [parting of: Heb. mother of] [arrows: or, knives] [images: Heb. teraphim]

Contradiction with Acts 17:29

This verse speaks against using physical materials like stone to represent divine beings, whereas Joshua 4:3 uses stones as a spiritual sign.

Acts 17:29: Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Contradiction with Colossians 2:8

Warns against following human traditions, contradicting the practice of setting stones as memorials instructed in Joshua 4:3.

Colossians 2:8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [rudiments: or, elements] [make a prey: or, seduce you, or, lead you astray]
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