Forty has a special place and meaning as 4x10 in several passages, i.e. the number of perfected probation or responsibility before God fully taken up on earth. And it will accordingly be found connected with the judgment as a result.
Thus, the twelve spies searched the land through 40 days fully to test it and its produce (Num. 13:25). But the presentation of their evidence tested Israel who despised the pleasant land and they wandered 40 years in the wilderness a year for a day as the result.
Forty was the limit to the number of stripes that might be given in punishment (Deut. 25:3).
Goliath challenged Israel 40 days (1 Sam. 17:16).
Jonah gave Nineveh 40 days for repentance (Jonah 3:4).
Hazael, when he would inquire of God, took 40 camels burden of presents, on behalf of his master the king of Syria (2 Kings 8:9).
The rain at the deluge was for 40 days and 40 nights (Gen. 7:4, 12, 17). And when the waters abated, Noah waited 40 days before he sent out the raven (Gen. 8:6).
Jacob was embalmed 40 days (Gen. 50:3).
Elijah went in the strength of that meat 40 days and nights to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
Our Lord Jesus Christ submitted Himself to temptation of the devil 40 days (Luke 4:2), most blessed witness to His person, by the period of perfected probation: 40 days. Similarly, in resurrection, He appeared to His disciples that they might be well qualified as witnesses, 40 days, before ascending (Acts 1:3).
Moses was in the mount 40 days and nights (Ex. 24:18), and again the same length of time (Ex. 34:28).
Moses was 40 years old when he fled from Pharaoh, led the desert life 40 years, and again led Israel through their 40 years of wandering. Caleb was 40 years old when Moses sent him as a spy at Kadesh (Josh. 14:7).
Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah (Gen. 25:20). Esau was 40 when he married Judith (Gen. 26:34).
Ishbosheth was 40 when he began to reign (2 Sam. 2:10).
The land rested 40 years under Othniel (Judg. 3:11). The land rested 40 years after Deborah's victory (Judg. 5:31). The land rested 40 years under Gideon (Judg. 8:28). The land was once 40 years under Philistines (Judg. 13:1),
Eli judged Israel 40 years (1 Sam. 4:18).
David, Saul, Solomon, and Jehoash reigned, each, 40 years (2 Sam. 5:4, Acts 13:21, 2 Chron. 9:30, and 2 Kings 12:1).
The length of the "holy" in Solomon's temple was 40 cubits (1 Kings 6:17; also Ezek. 41:2).
Forty shekels was the customary pay of governors (Neh. 5:15).
Acts 23:13 shows that "more than forty" had made conspiracy against Paul; indicating an energy in such a matter that would not be overcome.
"Gilgal" where the judgment of death to self is seen is mentioned 40 times. The ark is called "ark of the covenant" 40 times. "Most Holy" is used 40 times in the Old Testament. "Blue" is mentioned 40 times in Ex. and Num.
It will be readily seen that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ was the one scene where probation and judgment were alike perfected before God together. The probation of man, as in Israel, was finished then; the crucifixion of the Messiah was final guilt. It is interesting to see in connection with this the figure of the shattered nation in the impotent man of John 5, who had an infirmity 38 years; whereas after the cross, the lame man in Acts 3, who again illustrates the condition of the nation, "was above forty years old" (Acts 4:22), a specimen of grace which would equally heal the nation, even now "but ye would not."