Contradictions and Paradoxes in Judges 1:4

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Judges 1:4 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Judges 1:4. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of Judges, God helped the people of Judah win a battle against the Canaanites and the Perizzites, and they defeated ten thousand of their soldiers in a place called Bezek. This shows how God supported Judah by giving them victory over their enemies.

Judges 1:4: And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

Contradiction with Judges 1:19

While Judges 1:4 speaks of victory, Judges 1:19 notes the Israelites’ inability to drive out inhabitants with iron chariots, suggesting a limitation of success.

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 Judges 2:2-3

God rebukes Israel for not destroying altars and forming covenants, indicating disobedience and incomplete victory, contrasting with the initial conquest success in Judges 1:4.

Judges 2:2-3: 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 Joshua 17:12-13

Reflects the failure to drive out all Canaanite inhabitants as they continued to dwell in the land, contrasting the victorious claim of Judges 1:4.

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 Numbers 14:41-45

The Israelites are defeated when they attempt to attack without God's command, contrasting with the God-supported victory in Judges 1:4.

Numbers 14:41-45: And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

Contradiction with Deuteronomy 7:2-4

Commanded to utterly destroy nations and make no covenants, whereas Judges 1:4 describes a victory yet other parts imply incomplete obedience to commands.

Deuteronomy 7:2-4: 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:

Paradox #1

The potential contradiction in Judges 1:4 could be the conflict between the act of violence and the broader teachings about love and compassion in other parts of the Bible. This verse describes a violent event, which might seem inconsistent with messages about peace and forgiveness found elsewhere in the Scriptures.

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