Num. 11:5. "Fish... the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick." This was the food of Egypt, 6 items.
2 Sam. 21:20. The unnamed son of the giant had six fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot.
Also 6 is just short of seven.
It would seem therefore to represent imperfection or again to show the power of evil; and also that the scope of the world's supplies (i.e., Egypt's food) falls short of Divine provisions in Christ, which are (Deut. 8:8): "wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates. . .oil olive, and honey": seven.
In a secondary way 6 is a half of twelve and is thus connected with administration. Each onyx stone on the high priest's shoulders was engraved with 6 names of Israel's tribes. So also 6 lions at each end of the 6 steps to Solomon's throne, in 1 Kings 10:19-20. But the six steps themselves suggest rather the imperfection of his rule, which became manifest in spite of all his privileges and endowments.
The shewbread was ordered on the table in two rows of 6 (Lev. 24:6) making 12. The reason of the division is doubtless something more than merely convenience; it may refer to the imperfection of the condition of the time.
There is no statement in Scripture as to the subdivision of the cubit; but it is generally regarded as six hand breadths. Nor is there any indication of various cubits from Noah's cubit downwards until 2 Chron. 3:3 uses the expression "the length by cubits after the first measure." These words may refer to some alteration in the cubit, but not necessarily; and if they do, then Ezek. 40:5 may give a solution of their meaning. The prophet says "a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and a hand breadth." This tells us of a larger cubit than is spoken of before, larger by one hand breadth. So that if current reckoning allow 6 handbreadths to the usual cubit, then Ezekiel's measurements are on the basis of the new and enlarged cubit of seven handbreadths. Most significant this!!
The first temple erected with number 6 for its basis of measurement has long been both defiled and also a wreck. But the future temple which Ezekiel describes will be maintained in the integrity of its character even as its actual measures are founded on number seven. Indeed, the last line of Zechariah's prophecy is "and in that day" the millennial day, the day of Ezekiel's temple -"there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of Jehovah of hosts." Now "the Canaanite" is literally the merchant, it is the same Hebrew word as is so translated in Job 41:6 and also in Prov. 31:24. The force of the prophecy being that Jehovah's temple shall not in that day be again defiled by the merchant but its holiness shall be well maintained. Compare John 2:16 and Matt. 21:12. There will be no failure when number seven supersedes number 6.
In 1 Sam. 17, Goliath has six pieces of armor: a helmet, a coat of mail, greaves of brass, a target of brass, a spear and a shield; while his own height was 6 cubits and a span. In this connection with the power of evil, the number 666 may be noted which is the well known number of the beast in Rev. 13. Now 666 is also the number of talents of gold which were brought to Solomon in a year (1 Kings 10:14), which he comments on in Eccl. 2:8, 11. Thus "I gathered me also silver and gold," &c.... "and, behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sun," while we read in 1 Tim. 6:10, "the love of money is the root of all evil."
The only other occurrence of the number 666 is in the list of those who returned from the captivity (Ezra 2:13), "The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six." The meaning of the name "Adonikam" appears to be "the Lord is risen," or by a varied derivation, "the Lord of enemies," i.e., victor. Is the double thought here of the Lord in resurrection, conqueror of all foes in this Name and the power of evil met in detail by the offspring of one with such a title? The wisdom of the Spirit of God has these three times so used and connected these three facts by the number 666. At the least it is ours to bow to the facts and reverently ask the meaning of the record.
Six earthquakes are mentioned in Scripture: Ex. 19:18; 1 Kings 19:11; Amos 1:1 (also in Zech. 14:5); Matt. 27:54; 28:2; Acts 16:26.
Six times Jerusalem is called "holy": Neh. 11:1, 18; Isa. 48:2; 52:1; 64:10; Dan. 9:24.
In Deut. 28:3-16 will be found 6-fold blessing and 6-fold cursing.
In John 2, six waterpots would seem to indicate the imperfection of the provision and of the source of purifying (or its means) at that time.