Contradiction with Exodus 20:13
Judges 20:46 describes the killing of many people, while Exodus 20:13 commands "Thou shalt not kill."
Exodus 20:13: Thou shalt not kill.
Contradiction with Matthew 5:9
Judges 20:46 involves violence and warfare, whereas Matthew 5:9 blesses the peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9: Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Contradiction with Isaiah 2:4
Isaiah 2:4 envisions a future where nations stop learning war, contrasting with the ongoing conflict in Judges 20:46.
Isaiah 2:4: And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. [pruninghooks: or, scythes]
Contradiction with Romans 12:19
Romans 12:19 advises against seeking personal vengeance, whereas Judges 20:46 details retributive violence.
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.
Paradox #1
The contradiction or inconsistency could relate to the numbers mentioned in the context of the battle, such as the number of people killed. In other parts of the Bible, these numbers might differ or be implausibly large, which could create confusion or seem unrealistic from a historical perspective.
Paradox #2
The contradiction or inconsistency with "Judges 20:46" could involve the large number of people reportedly killed in a single day during a battle. From a historical and archaeological standpoint, such large-scale battles and casualties are sometimes questioned for their feasibility given the estimated population sizes and fighting capabilities of ancient societies. Therefore, the numbers described might be exaggerated or symbolic rather than literal accounts.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in Judges 20:46 could be seen as the Bible portraying violence and large-scale loss of life, which can conflict with the message of love, forgiveness, and valuing human life found elsewhere in the Bible. This raises questions about how to reconcile the endorsement of such actions with other teachings that emphasize peace and compassion.
Paradox #4
Numerical contradiction or inconsistency might arise if there are other verses in the same chapter or nearby chapters that mention a different number of people killed in the battle. This can create confusion if the numbers don't match up across different verses.