Contradiction with Exodus 20:13
"Thou shalt not kill" contradicts the directive to spare only the young women in Numbers 31:18.
Exodus 20:13: Thou shalt not kill.
Contradiction with Matthew 5:44
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies" contradicts the actions against the Midianites in Numbers 31:18.
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 1 John 4:8
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" contradicts the lack of compassion shown in Numbers 31:18.
1 John 4:8: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Contradiction with Isaiah 1:17
"Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed" contradicts the treatment of captives in Numbers 31:18.
Isaiah 1:17: Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. [relieve: or, righten]
Contradiction with Luke 6:27
"Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you" contradicts the hostility shown in Numbers 31:18.
Luke 6:27: But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Paradox #1
Numbers 31:18 has been critiqued for raising ethical and moral questions about war, violence, and treatment of captives, which can seem inconsistent with other biblical teachings on compassion, justice, and the value of human life. These issues may create tension for readers who try to reconcile this passage with broader biblical themes of love and mercy.
Paradox #2
Numbers 31:18 has raised ethical and moral concerns because it involves instructions that are difficult to reconcile with modern views on human rights and treatment of captives. The verse describes a situation where the Israelites are commanded to take certain captives during a conflict. This can be seen as conflicting with contemporary values and ideas about war and the treatment of non-combatants.
Paradox #3
The moral conflict with Numbers 31:18 arises from the ethical concerns about treatment of individuals during wartime, especially pertaining to vulnerable groups. This situation can be seen as inconsistent with broader moral teachings around compassion, justice, and the protection of innocents.
Paradox #4
The contradiction or inconsistency could arise from interpreting "Numbers 31:18" in the context of differing accounts of numbers in biblical narratives, such as discrepancies in population figures, casualty counts, or allocation of people or goods in different parts of the text. Sometimes, different books or chapters provide conflicting figures or descriptions that don't seem to align perfectly. If this verse is compared with another that provides differing numbers or descriptions, it could lead to perceived contradictions or inconsistencies.