Contradiction with Deuteronomy 17:17
This verse instructs that a king should not multiply wives for himself, whereas Judges 8:30 describes Gideon having many wives.
Deuteronomy 17:17: Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
Contradiction with 1 Kings 11:3-4
Describes Solomon having many wives leading him astray, contrary to Gideon's story promoting having many wives without consequence.
1 Kings 11:3-4: And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
Contradiction with Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus emphasizes monogamy and the union of one man and one woman, conflicting with Gideon's practice of having many wives.
Matthew 19:4-6: And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female,
Contradiction with 1 Timothy 3:2
Advises that a bishop should be the husband of one wife, opposing Gideon's example of having multiple wives.
1 Timothy 3:2: A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [of good...: or, modest]
Paradox #1
Theological discussions around this verse might center on issues related to polygamy and the moral behavior of biblical figures. Some might see a contradiction between the practices of key figures in the Bible and the moral principles often emphasized in other parts of the text. This can lead to questions about the consistency of family and leadership ideals in biblical narratives.
Paradox #2
The possible contradiction in Judges 8:30 might relate to the broader biblical view on polygamy and the consequences of having many children from multiple partners. The verse implies a situation where a leader had many sons due to having multiple wives, which could conflict with other biblical teachings that emphasize monogamy and the potential problems caused by polygamous relationships.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in Judges 8:30 is that Gideon, a key leader, had many sons from multiple wives. This might be seen as conflicting with the biblical portrayal of leaders ideally having a more monogamous lifestyle, reflecting a potential inconsistency in the expectations of leadership and family values in different parts of the Bible.
Paradox #4
The contradiction in Judges 8:30 is about someone having 70 sons. Biologically, it's highly improbable for one person to father that many sons due to limits on human fertility and lifespan. Additionally, taking into account factors like infant mortality rates and resources needed to support a large family, it seems unlikely.
Paradox #5
Gideon, a chosen leader, had many wives and sons, which might contradict the biblical ideal of monogamy and the challenges of managing such a large family. This could show a conflict between human behavior and biblical teachings on marriage.
Paradox #6
The potential issue is that Judges 8:30 mentions Gideon having 70 sons because he had many wives. However, in another part of the Bible, specifically 1 Chronicles 2:47, it only mentions 71 sons. This discrepancy in numbers might be seen as a contradiction or inconsistency.