Contradiction with Genesis 35:10
In Genesis, God renames Jacob to Israel, establishing a spiritual heritage; Judges 18:29 emphasizes the renaming of a city, which contrasts the focus on individuals in Genesis.
Genesis 35:10: And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
Contradiction with 2 Kings 17:34
This verse shows that the people did not fear the Lord, in contrast with Judges 18:29 where Dan is given a significant name, implying recognition by the tribes.
2 Kings 17:34: Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
Contradiction with Joshua 19:47
This verse describes the tribe of Dan seeking more territory and capturing Leshem before renaming it Dan, which shows a continuous struggle for identity and legacy contrary to a static renaming in Judges 18:29.
Joshua 19:47: And the coast of the children of Dan went out [too little] for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
Contradiction with Exodus 20:7
The commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain underlines the sanctity of names and divine approval, which can conflict with the seemingly casual renaming of a city in Judges 18:29.
Exodus 20:7: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 12:5
God directs Israelites to seek the place He chooses, indicating divinely chosen places, contrasting the human decision for renaming in Judges 18:29 without explicit divine command.
Deuteronomy 12:5: But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
Contradiction with 1 Samuel 8:7
God tells Samuel the Israelites rejected Him by asking for a king, showing a longing for human authority which contrasts with the divine legacy implied in Judges 18:29 when renaming a city.
1 Samuel 8:7: And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Paradox #1
The contradiction in Judges 18:29 could involve the city of Dan. The verse mentions that the city of Laish was renamed Dan after it was conquered. However, some scholars point out inconsistencies about the timing of the Israelite settlement and the renaming, as it seems to overlap with stories from other parts of the Bible that suggest different historical timelines for the tribe of Dan. There are debates over when exactly the tribe of Dan settled in that region and how it relates to other biblical events.