Contradictions and Paradoxes in Judges 1:23

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Judges 1:23 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Judges 1:23. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of the book of Judges, the people from the family of Joseph went to explore the city called Bethel, which was once named Luz. They wanted to learn more about the city and its people before they did anything else.

Judges 1:23: And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before [was] Luz.)

Contradiction with Judges 1:19

Judges 1:19 notes that the LORD was with Judah, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had chariots of iron. This contradicts Judges 1:23, where the LORD helped the house of Joseph successfully spy on Bethel, suggesting divine assistance led to victory.

Judges 1:19: And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out [the inhabitants of] the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. [drave...: or, possessed the mountain]

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 20:16-17

These verses command the Israelites to utterly destroy the cities of certain peoples, showing a mandate for complete conquest, which contrasts with the limited outcome of the spying mission in Judges 1:23.

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 Joshua 17:12-13

These verses describe the failure to completely drive out the Canaanites, even when they grew strong, which contradicts the assistance implied in the successful outcome of Judges 1:23.

Joshua 17:12-13: Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Contradiction with Judges 3:1-2

These verses state that God left nations to test Israel, suggesting a divine purpose for enemy presence, contrasting with Judges 1:23 where success is aided by divine intervention.

Judges 3:1-2: Now these [are] the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, [even] as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

Contradiction with Numbers 33:52-53

These verses command the Israelites to drive out all inhabitants of the land, directly contradicting any failure or incomplete conquest implied in Judges 1:23.

Numbers 33:52-53: Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
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