Contradiction with Exodus 20:13
"Thou shalt not kill." This contradicts Judges 20:45, which describes killing in battle.
Exodus 20:13: Thou shalt not kill.
Contradiction with Matthew 5:44
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you..." This countermands the conflict described in Judges 20:45.
Matthew 5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Contradiction with Romans 12:19
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves..." This contrasts with the actions of pursuit and battle in Judges 20:45.
Romans 12:19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Contradiction with Luke 6:27
"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you." This opposes the pursuit and killing in Judges 20:45.
Luke 6:27: But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Contradiction with Proverbs 20:22
"Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord..." This is in opposition to the vengeful acts in Judges 20:45.
Proverbs 20:22: Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Paradox #1
There are historical inconsistencies in the numbers and events described in this chapter, such as varying numbers of casualties in different accounts, which might not align perfectly with historical records or archaeological evidence. These discrepancies could be due to differences in source materials or oral traditions used in compiling the text.
Paradox #2
The potential contradiction in "Judges 20:45" could relate to the large numbers of people involved in the battle and subsequent events described. Scientifically, it can be challenging to verify or understand how such large numbers were accurately recorded or managed in ancient times without the sophisticated record-keeping systems we have today.
Paradox #3
Some people might see a contradiction in this verse because it involves violence and killing, which can seem inconsistent with the idea of compassion and forgiveness that are important in other parts of the Bible. It might seem contrary to the moral teachings about love and mercy.
Paradox #4
The contradiction in Judges 20:45 relates to different numbers reported in different parts of the passage and surrounding verses regarding how many men were killed. It might not match perfectly with other verse counts, causing confusion about the exact number.