Contradiction with Numbers 3:39
This verse states a total of 22,000 Levites, which contrasts with the total given in Numbers 1:46, as the Levites are not included in the census of the children of Israel.
Numbers 3:39: All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, [were] twenty and two thousand.
Contradiction with Numbers 26:51
This verse provides a different total (601,730) from the census taken following a plague, showing a change in the number of Israelites counted compared to Numbers 1:46.
Numbers 26:51: These [were] the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
Contradiction with Numbers 2:32-33
These verses affirm the exclusion of the Levites from the overall total mentioned in Numbers 1:46, highlighting a difference in population counting.
Numbers 2:32-33: These [are] those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts [were] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
Paradox #1
Some people find a contradiction in the large number of Israelites reported, as it seems too high given the historical and archaeological evidence about populations at that time. This raises questions about the accuracy or interpretation of these numbers.
Paradox #2
The scientific inconsistency with the number mentioned in that biblical verse is that the population count seems extraordinarily high for the time and the region. This creates doubts regarding the logistics of supporting such a large group in the desert environment described, as resources like food and water would have been limited. Additionally, it raises questions about census taking and record-keeping capabilities of that ancient society.
Paradox #3
Numerical contradictions related to Numbers 1:46 often arise when comparing the census numbers with other lists or figures in different parts of the Bible. Some people point out inconsistencies between the large numbers in this verse and the smaller figures mentioned elsewhere, such as population estimates from historical or archaeological sources. These discrepancies can lead to debates about the accuracy or symbolic interpretation of the figures.