Contradictions and Paradoxes in Joshua 9:24

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Joshua 9:24 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Joshua 9:24. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of the book, Joshua, the people were scared because they heard that God told Moses to give the land to Joshua and the Israelites and to remove everyone else living there. So, they decided to trick Joshua because they were afraid for their lives.

Joshua 9:24: And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

Contradiction with Exodus 34:12

This verse instructs the Israelites to be careful not to make covenants with the inhabitants of the land, which contrasts with Joshua 9:24 where they explain their actions by claiming the Israelites were commanded to drive out the inhabitants.

Exodus 34:12: Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 7:2

This verse commands the Israelites to utterly destroy the inhabitants and make no treaty with them, contradicting the notion of making any covenant as seen in Joshua 9:24.

Deuteronomy 7:2: And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 20:16-17

These verses state that in the cities of certain peoples, including the Canaanites, nothing that breathes should be left alive, conflicting with the Gibeonites' survival as suggested by their treaty with Israel in Joshua 9:24.

Deuteronomy 20:16-17: But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

Contradiction with Judges 2:2

This verse reprimands the Israelites for not breaking down the altars of the people they were supposed to destroy, which goes against the treaty made with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:24.

Judges 2:2: And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

Contradiction with Ezra 9:1-2

These verses express distress over Israelites mingling with local people, which indirectly questions the legitimacy of treaties like the one mentioned in Joshua 9:24.

Ezra 9:1-2: Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

Paradox #1

Joshua 9:24 could present a contradiction or conflict because it involves deception. The Gibeonites lied to Joshua and the Israelites to make a peace treaty, fearing for their lives. This action raises questions about whether it's ever right to lie to protect oneself and whether the Israelites' subsequent honoring of this deceitful agreement aligns with biblical teachings about truth and honesty.

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