Gen. 2:2-3. "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day... and God blessed the seventh day."
Rev. 1:12. "I saw seven golden candlesticks," etc.
Perfection is universally allowed to be the general character of this numeral. As noticed under number four, it is somewhat contrasted with that number by its heavenly connection at times, and at others by its mystical or spiritual associations, four being more often earthly and manifest.
The 7 days of the week, as marked out by God, became a keynote for many a series, where one intended to express a completeness of action in a refined way. Thus:
Jacob bowed 7 times to Esau (Gen. 33:3).
Abraham set 7 ewe lambs for a witness (Gen. 21:30).
Job's friends sat silent 7 days and 7 nights (Job 2:13).
Balak built 7 altars and offered 7 bullocks and 7 rams on each (Num. 23:1,2) and did this three times (v. 14 and 29).
Naaman washed 7 times in Jordan (2 Kings 5:14).
Seven green withes were taken to bind Samson and the 7 locks of his head were shaven (Judg. 16:8,19).
The Arabian tribute to Jehoshaphat was 7,700 rams and 7,700 he-goats (2 Chron. 17:11).
Vashti was called in by Ahasuerus on the 7th day of the feast (Esther 1:10). His princes were 7 (v. 14), and 7 maidens were given to Esther (Ch. 2:9). The king, too, had 7 chamberlains (Ch. 1:10). Artaxerxes also had 7 councilors (Ezra 7:14).
Jacob served 7 years for Rachel and for Leah (Gen. 29:30). A 7 days fast was held over Saul (1 Sam. 31:13).
God appointed a 7 fold vengeance for Cain (Gen. 4:15).
The Book of the Revelation abounds in 7's: 7 churches, 7 spirits, 7 candlesticks, 7 stars, 7 lamps of fire, 7 angels, 7 letters, 7 seals, 7 horns, 7 eyes, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, 7 hands, 7 crowns, 7 plagues, 7 vials, 7 mountains, 7 kings, and (in Ch. 11:13) 7000 are slain.
In the Levitical appointments also, 7 abounds. The 7th year was the year of rest, and of release (Ex. 23:11, Lev. 25:4, and 26:34).
The feast of unleavened bread was for 7 days (Lev. 23:6). And this is of marked significance for us, as it is referred to in 1 Cor. 5:7,8. The old feast was a result of the Paschal feast, which preceded it, and fixed its time. So in 1 Cor., because Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the 7 days feast of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Too often this scripture is thought of as meaning, therefore let us keep our Paschal feast. But the 7 days of unleavened bread figures (in the power of what 7 is) the perfection of times so that our feast keeping (if we truly answer to the precept "let us keep &c.") will extend over all our life.
There is another use of this number 7 in a similar way which is remarkable and interesting. We read in a parenthesis in Num. 13:22, "Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt." Egypt represents, as the "house of bondage" under Pharaoh, the world under the rule and yoke of Satan its god. Zoan was that place in Egypt where the wise men assembled, see Isa. 19:11 and 13. It was also the place where the special power of God's miracles was displayed (Psa. 78:12,43), though His "wonders" in that field only brought out the real folly of man's wisdom and Pharaoh's own councilors became "brutish." But Hebron was the place in Canaan, where in its valley grew the finest grapes in God's record (a valley thence called Eshcol), while in its city on the hill the three sons of Anak (Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai) dwelt. The fruits of the land of promise illustrate for us, heavenly blessings stored up for us in Christ there, but for faith on earth. Hebron is the place, therefore, where in figure faith finds now the richest joys God has for us in Christ. But "Hebron was built," i.e. set up, "seven years," i.e. the perfection of time, "before Zoan in Egypt." That is to say, the sphere of richest heavenly delights for faith (having crossed Jordan as well as the Red Sea) was established by God the perfection of time before the collective wisdom of this world got for itself a place of resort and dwelling.
It was even long (7 years) before the earth was, that God ordained provisions of wisdom for our glory. And if the reader will go carefully from Gen. 1:1 to Rev. 22:21 and collect all the statements touching "or ever the earth was," he will find a wonderful group of truths (a richest bunch of grapes) which will be living and eternal delight for faith now and on and on, forever. As to their bearing on anything on earth, it will be found that they exclusively relate to the church of God, things that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man... But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit." The following passages will summarize the truths referred to: Psa. 90:2, Prov. 8:22-31, Mic. 5:2, John 17:5,24, Psa. 103:17, 1 Peter 1:19-20, Eph. 1:4, 2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 1:2, 1 Cor. 2:7, Eph. 3:11. No other truth from the past of eternity has been disclosed to us, though other passages may be found referring to the same truths. And they are 7 years before Zoan.
Returning to Levitical arrangements, it took 7 days to consecrate the priests (Ex. 29:35).
Israel was to dwell in booths for 7 days in the feast of tabernacles (Lev. 23:42).
There were 7 lamps to the candlestick, the perfection of light (truth) communicated in the power of the Holy Spirit (the oil burning).
Blood was sprinkled 7 times before the mercy seat on the great day of atonement (Lev. 16:14). It had already been sprinkled once upon the mercy seat; that is to say, as towards God, one sprinkling was enough; a real memorial of the life laid down in sacrificial death was put upon the gold mercy seat, and as figure of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, it made propitiation. God received it there, justice was satisfied, the claims of the throne were fully honored; and then the very next act is the 7 fold sprinkling before the mercy seat. This was towards man. It was seen actually only by the high priest, but in his person the whole nation was represented. And when once the blood was rendered to God, immediately it was to be recorded for man's relief. and conscious blessing too. But now for this, the sprinkling is 7 fold, a perfect testimony to him. No room was to be left in the detail of such a rite for him to allow a doubt or fear, or hesitation as to the reality and efficacy of what was done. Sevenfold sprinkling! Can this leave any simple soul unsatisfied?
Reader, it is a Divine picture. As it casts a Divine light on the reality in Christ, are you satisfied? God is. Christ did it. The Holy Ghost is witness. "We have redemption through his [Christ's] blood." Have you?
This kind of 7 fold sprinkling is observed also in other connections with the same idea underlying it. In Num. 19:4, the blood of the red heifer, though killed outside the camp, was to be sprinkled 7 times "directly before the tabernacle of the congregation" in the meeting place, that is, between God and man. In Lev. 14:7, the leper to be cleansed was sprinkled with the blood of the killed bird 7 times. And the leprous house must be sprinkled 7 times for cleansing (Lev. 14:51). And again in v. 16, the oil is to be sprinkled 7 times before Jehovah.
There would appear also to be a 7 fold application of blood in another way on the day of atonement; for while Lev. 16 gives special details, yet the laws of the respective sacrifices would still hold good, although the particulars are not repeated in every reference. Thus the 4th of Lev. supplies what the 16th does not stay to repeat. So that on the Day of Atonement, there was:
1) Sprinkling on the mercy seat (Lev. 16:14).
2) Sprinkling before the mercy seat (Lev. 16:14).
3) Sprinkling before the veil 7 fold (Lev. 4:17).
4) Application to the horns of golden altar (Ex. 30:10).
5) Application to the horns of brazen altar (Lev. 16:18).
6) Sprinkling round about upon the brazen altar (Lev. 16:19).
7) blood left was poured out at the bottom of the brazen altar (Lev. 4:18).
Accordingly, in the nation's history we find 7 fold sacrifice prominent: 2 Chron. 13:9 is a marked instance of it, as it refers to a custom which had arisen, founded on God's appointments, of consecrating priests "of them that are no gods." A single ram was Aaron's consecration offering, beside the other offerings, but when man abuses God's instructions and principles, he in the energy of his will often intensifies those outward expressions which are right in themselves and orderly. So here, to make an idol priest, man requires "seven rams," the perfection of consecration. But "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." The evil purpose can be in no way compensated by any abundance of sacrifices.
2 Chron. 29:21 shows Hezekiah offering under special circumstances "seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs and seven he goats." The 3 first 7's were burnt offerings and the 7 he goats a sin offering.
In the future temple, during the 7 days of the feast of unleavened bread, the Prince is to prepare a burnt offering each day, of "seven bullocks and seven rams"; through the feast of tabernacles for 7 days, 7 bullocks and 7 rams also (Ezek. 45:23,25).
When David brought up the ark from the house of Obed-edom (1 Chron. 15:26) and "God helped the Levites," they offered 7 bullocks and 7 rams.
Why did the child of the Shunammite brought to life again by Elisha sneeze 7 times (2 Kings 4:35)?
Perfection of action, in a general way, will often be seen in the use of 7. Thus, 7 priests with 7 trumpets went round Jericho for 7 days, and 7 times on the 7th day. (Note: these should be "trumpets of Jubilee." In v. 5, the word "horn" is used, but it is "Jubilee horn," and the "ram" is not mentioned in the chapter. Does this Jubilee trumpet, so used, express the power of faith that fully anticipated victory? Heb. tells us specially "by faith the walls of Jericho fell down" etc.)
David says, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments" (Psa. 119:164).
The furnace was heated 7 times hotter than it was wont to be, for the 3 faithful men (Dan. 3:19).
Nebuchadnezzar was driven from among men until 7 times had passed over him, before his reason returned (Dan. 4:16,23,25). (Is there not a solemn connection between this period and his 7 fold heating of the furnace for God's servants?)
It took 7 days to cleanse a leper or him that had an issue (Lev. 14). And one defiled by the dead must abide unclean 7 days (Num. 19:11). Miriam was shut out of the camp 7 days (Num. 12:15).
The Gibeonites asked for 7 of Saul's sons to be hanged to make atonement (2 Sam. 21:6).
It is already noticed that the fruits of Canaan or its food rather is 7 fold, i.e. perfect (Deut. 8:8) in contrast with the 6 fold (imperfect) food of Egypt).
It was the 7th time Elijah's servant went that he saw the little cloud (1 Kings 18:44).
What is the significance of "upon one stone shall be 7 eyes" (Zech. 3:9)? Do the "eyes" in any way connect themselves with the "Urim" or lights in the breastplate? and, if so, is the number of them (7) also connected with the "Thummim" or perfections?
Why was Solomon 7 years building the Temple (1 Kings 6:38), specially as 6 is the unit of its measure, as we have before seen? Does the time taken carry any reference to the character of its workmanship and execution?
Other 7's are found connected with evil. In Mark 16:9, we find seven devils cast out of Mary Magdalene. In Matt. 12:45, a man is figured taking to himself 7 other spirits more wicked than himself, or more probably this is the cast out unclean spirit who so acts.
In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, there are 7 distinct names of God:
1. Elohim. This is usually printed (in A. V.) with a capital G only, and rendered "God." It seems to be
in chief the creator Name. It is in a plural form, the singular of which is Eloah, and this is
occasionally used also and rendered and printed the same. It seems in some places to mark the One
God, as distinguished from idols, or from many. In 6 passages only, it is used of some single idol
god, while Elohim is so used frequently. In the Chaldee portions of the text, the corresponding form
"Elah" is used, rendered and printed "God." Elohim is used of the true God 2349 times, Eloah 51
times, and Elah 77 times.
2. El. This name, rendered "God" also, is usually printed in the same way, and is therefore not to be
distinguished in our version. It is the Name of power and victory; and it is used of the true God 220
times.
3. Jah. Usually printed "LORD" in capitals, this is the name of grandeur and majesty. It occurs in the
Psa. 43 times and 6 elsewhere, viz. twice in Exodus (15:2 and 17:16) and four times in Isaiah.
4. Jehovah. Usually rendered LORD and printed in capitals. But in the term "Lord GOD" where
"GOD" is in capitals, it stands for Jehovah or the form Jehovah, "Lord" there being another Name
Adonai see below. Jehovah is the name of relationship and is specially so to the nation of Israel (Ex.
6:3).
Ex. 5:2, 3 will show the distinctive use of these names of God in their characters.
"Jah is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation:
He is my El, and I will prepare him a habitation;
My father's Elohim, and I will exalt Him.
Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name."
Jehovah occurs 6523 times, and the form Jehovah occurs 304 times.
5. Adon, Adonim, Adonai, usually rendered Lord and printed with capital "L" only, is the tender and
compassionate name of God. Adon occurs but 16 times, and Adonim 12, Adonai 434 times. Psa.
130:2,3 will show its use:
"Adonai, hear my voice... If thou, Jah shouldest mark iniquities, O Adonai, who shall stand?"
The other Names in this Psa. are all Jehovah.
6. Shaddai or "Almighty," and always rendered so in A. V. As no other word is so rendered, it is readily
recognized without mistake. It occurs 48 times of which 31 are in Job.
7. Gnelion, or "Most High," usually so rendered. There is the Chaldee form Gnillai, and in Hosea twice
a special form "Gnal." Altogether it is used 43 times. It will be found connected with the millennial
ways of God.
Seven things are said to make atonement:
1. Gold (Num. 31:50)
2. Silver (Ex. 30:15)
3. Incense (Num. 16:47)
4. Fine flour (Lev. 5:13)
5. Blood (Lev. 17:11,14)
6. The scapegoat living (Lev. 16:10)
7. Oil (Lev. 14:29)
Many 7's specially divide into 3 and 4. Thus, there are in scripture 7 instances of sealing, 4 of which are bad and 3 are good.
1. Jezebel sealed letters against Naboth (1 Kings 21:8).
2. Ahasuerus against the Jews (Esther 3:12).
3, On stone over Daniel in the den of lions (Dan. 6:17).
4. On our Lord's sepulcher (Matt. 27:66).
5. Princes and others sealed covenant (Neh. 9:38).
6. Ahasuerus for the Jews (Esther 8:8).
7. The evidence of the purchase of a field (Jer. 32:10).
The 7 parables of the kingdom of heaven are so divided in Matt. 13. The 7 letters to the churches also in Rev. The 7 trees in Isa. 41:19. (What is the difference here between the "wilderness" and the "desert"?) Seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel: 3 are named and 4 are not (1 Sam. 16). The cleansing of the defiled (Num. 19:12) takes 7 days, with sprinkling on the third as well as seventh day.
The 7 miracles given only by John are 4 of them on individuals the nobleman's son (4:47), the man at Bethesda (5:5), the blind man (9:1) and Lazarus (11). The other 3 are water into wine (2:1), officers &c. felled to the ground (18:6) and the draft of fishes (21:6).
The 7 who were killed by stoning were 3 criminals and 4 faithful men:
1. The blasphemer (Lev. 24:14)
2. The Sabbath-breaker (Num. 15:36)
3. Achan (Josh. 7:25)
4. Adoram (1 Kings 12:18)
5. Naboth (1 Kings 21:13)
6. Zechariah (2 Chron. 24:21)
7. Stephen (Acts 7:58)
(Notice in this connection that Paul was stoned, but such a resurrection man could not be killed by the penalty of the law see Acts 14:19.)
The 7 times mentioned of Israel's servitude are 3 under the Philistines (Judg. 10:8;13:1 and 1 Sam. 7:2). The other 4 being under Chushanrishathaim (Judg. 3:8), Eglon (Judg. 3:14), Jabin (Judg. 4:3), and Midian (Judg. 6:1).
There are 7 particular oak trees spoken of (three are places of burial):
1. Under which Jacob buried the "gods" (Gen. 35:4)
2. Where Rachel's nurse was buried (Gen. 35:8)
3. In Jabesh under which Saul and his sons were buried (1 Sam. 31:13)
4. Where Joshua set up the stone of witness (Josh. 24:26)
5. In which Absalom's head was caught (2 Sam. 18:9)
6. One in Ophrah, where the angel sat (Judg. 6:11)
7. One the man of God sat under (1 Kings 13:14).
Seven particular vows are given in detail in the Old Testament:
1. Jacob's (Gen. 28:20)
2. Israel's (Num. 21:2)
3. Jephthah's (Judg. 11:30)
4. Hannah's (1 Sam. 1:11)
5. Absalom's (2 Sam. 15:8)
6. David's (Psa. 132:2)
7. By the Jews in Egypt (Jer. 44:25).
God is spoken of as a "jealous God" 7 times (and it is the Name "El" which is used every time), viz.: Ex. 20:5, 34:14, Deut. 4:24, 5:9, 6:15, Josh. 24:19, and Nah. 1:2. It is "El" also when He is said to be "terrible" in five passages.
He is spoken of as "God Almighty" 7 times and the names are "El Shaddai" (1. Gen. 17:1.2. Gen. 28:3. 3. Gen. 35:11. 4. Gen. 43:14. 5. Gen. 48:3. 6. Ex. 6:3. 7. Ezek. 10:5).
God is said to "dwell between the cherubims" 7 times: in 1 Sam. 4:4, 2 Sam. 6:2, 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chron. 13:6, Psa. 80:1, Psa. 99:1 (here the word "sitteth" should be "dwelleth," it is the same word in the Heb.), and Isa. 37:16.
Seven prophets are called seers. Three are "king's seers" (Gad, 2 Sam. 24:11, Heman, 1 Chron. 25:5, and Jeduthun, 2 Chron. 35:15); four others are "seers" (Iddo, 2 Chron. 9:29, Hanani, 2 Chron. 16:7, 19:2, Asaph, 2 Chron. 29:30, and Amos, Amos 7:12).
Seven bad prophets are named in the Old Testament (Balaam, Num. 22, Zedekiah, 1 Kings 22:11, Hananiah, Jer. 28:1, Ahab and Zedekiah, Jer. 29:21, Shemaiah the Nehelamite, Jer. 29:31, and Shemaiah son of Delaiah, Neh. 6:12).
Seven "keys" are mentioned in the Bible:
1. of Ehud's "summer parlor" (Judg. 3:25)
2. the "opening" (lit. key) "of the temple door" (1 Chron. 9:27)
3. key of David (Isa. 22:22 and Rev. 3:7)
4. keys of the Kingdom (not of the church) (Matt. 16:19)
5. key of knowledge (Luke 11:52)
6. keys of death and hades (Rev. 1:18) and
7. key of the bottomless pit (Rev. 9:1 and 20:1)
Elijah is called "man of God" 7 times (1 Kings 17:18, 24, 2 Kings 1:9, 10, 11, 12, 13). Seven in the Old Testament are called "man of God" whose names are mentioned:
Moses (Deut. 33:1 and 5 other times)
David (2 Chron. 8:14 and 2 other times)
Samuel (1 Sam. 9:6 and 3 other times in same chapter)
Shemaiah (1 Kings 12:22 and 2 Chron. 11:2)
Igdaliah (Jer. 35:4 only)
Elijah (7 times)
and Elisha (2 Kings 4:7 and 29 other times).
(Manoah ignorantly used the term, Judg. 13:8, 21.) Four others, whose names are not mentioned are also called "man of God," sent to Eli, Jeroboam, Ahab, and Amaziah, respectively.
There were 7 judgments sent from God, upon the congregation in the wilderness:
for the golden calf (Ex. 32:35)
at Taberah (Num. 11:1)
at Kibroth-hattaavah (Num. 11:33)
the plague at the gainsaying of Korah (Num. 16:47)
fiery serpents (Num. 21:6)
all to fall in the wilderness (Num. 14:32)
and the plague at Baal Peor (Num. 25:9).
There were also 7 personal judgments from God in the wilderness: on Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:2), the blasphemer (Lev. 24:11), Miriam (Num. 12:10), the 10 spies (Num. 14:37), Sabbath breaker (Num. 15:36), Korah and his company (Num. 16:32, 35), and Zimri and Cozbi (Num. 25:14).
In Deut. 28:22, seven evils are threatened for disobedience: consumption, fever, inflammation, extreme burning, the sword, blasting, and mildew.
In Matt. 15:19, 7 things out of the heart defile.
But Wisdom hews out her 7 pillars (Prov. 9:1), and Acts 6:3-5 looks out 7 men of honest report.
In 2 Cor. 9:8-11 there is a 7 fold "all." Thus, "God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every [all] good work... being enriched in every [all] thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God."
In John 21:2 there are 7 men: Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John, and two others.
Every 7th year the law was to be read to all the people (Deut. 31:10, 11). There is a significant 7 fold "chastise" in Lev. 26.
Noah also took the clean creatures by 7's into the ark (Gen. 7:2).
In Hebrews will be found 7 everlasting features: "a priest forever" (5:6), "eternal salvation" (5:9), "eternal Spirit" (9:14), "eternal judgment" (6:2), "eternal inheritance" (9:15), "eternal redemption" (9:12), and "everlasting covenant" (13:20).
On looking at the number of times 7 is used in the Hebrew of the Old Testament (and Chaldee) it will be found that the uses are as follows. In the simple form as 7 under 3 Hebrew and 1 Chaldee term 287 times, the fractional form 7th occurs 98 times, and the form "sevenfold" occurs 7 times. Now 287 divides by 7 = 41. And 98 also divides by 7 = 14. And these 3 added together make 392, which is the cube and square of 7 added together. Again, 7 in combination with other numerals (as 117 or 57) occurs 112 times, or 16x7. Seventy simply occurs 56 times = 8x7. Seventy in combination occurs 35 times, or 5x7. This feature will not be found in connection with any other of the numerals under 12.