Number Three

From: The Numerals Of Scripture By: Edward C. Pressland

• 8 min. read • grade level: 9

"Lord Jesus Christ," "God," "Holy Ghost," in 2 Cor. 13:14¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <<The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>> (2 Corinthians 13:14). "God the Father," "the Spirit," "Jesus Christ," in 1 Peter 1:2²Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2). "One Spirit," "one Lord," "one God and Father," in Eph. 4:4, 5, 6⁴There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4‑6).

The revelation of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God, Three in One, gives the highest value to this number Divine perfection.

So soon as the Lord Jesus Christ took His place publicly as the obedient Man in practice at His baptism, then the Father's voice is heard from heaven declaring Christ His beloved Son and the Spirit of God descends upon Him. The Trinity then stands fully revealed. This is not the place to do more than point out the fact of the Trinity; but the triple character of the Godhead is a truth in the Word, before which it is a creature's privilege to bend in simple and delighted adoration.

Creative action is ascribed in the Text, to each of the three Persons. "To us there is but one God, the Father, of [out from] whom are all things" (1 Cor. 8:6⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. (1 Corinthians 8:6)). "By him [the Son] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" (Col. 1:16¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)). "By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens" (Job 26:13¹³By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. (Job 26:13)).

In some passages, perfection in the presence of God appears to be connected with number 3, while in still more places abundance of testimony appears to be signified by it. Probably both are found in the appointment "three times in a year shall all thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose" (Deut. 16:16¹⁶Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: (Deuteronomy 16:16)). This would be action complete before God, and at the same time it would be a full witness to the claims of God brought home to Israel's generations. The former thought seems to be in our Lord's words, "the third day I shall be perfected" (Luke 13:32³²And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. (Luke 13:32)). The third hour, they crucified Him.

The following will illustrate how full witness is connected with 3:

1 John 5:8⁸And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 John 5:8). The Spirit, the water and the blood are the full witness to grace on earth.

Acts 10:16¹⁶This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. (Acts 10:16). Three times the sheet was let down to Peter.

Luke 13:7⁷Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? (Luke 13:7). The owner sought fruit 3 years on his tree, and then was satisfied to cut it down.

The inscription on the cross was in 3 languages.

Three days search was made for Elijah, before they were satisfied that he could not be found (2 Kings 2:17¹⁷And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. (2 Kings 2:17)).

Three times Israel declared "all that the Lord hath said will we do" (Ex. 19:8, 24:3, 7).

Joab took 3 darts and thrust through Absalom's heart, to make sure his death (2 Sam. 18:14¹⁴Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. (2 Samuel 18:14)).

The threefold temptation of our Lord gives full witness to the perfection of His obedience.

Three times a voice came from heaven as God's special witness to Christ (Matt. 3:17, 17:5, John 12:28²⁸Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:28)).

"Grapes," "pomegranates," and "figs" were brought by the spies to attest the quality of "the land" (Num. 13:23²³And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. (Numbers 13:23)).

Resurrection has been attached to 3, because our Lord was raised on the third day; and this was foreshadowed in Jonah; but unless further instances of this can be found, probably the continuance underneath until the third day will find its true meaning in full witness to our Lord's subjection to the power of death.

So the duration of darkness for 3 hours shows fully the isolation of the Spotless Victim from all that was of Nature, when God dealt with Him as "made sin." Does the reader accept for himself the testimony of those 3 hours? They testify how nothing human and nothing of the light of the intelligence of this world could be permitted to intrude for any semblance of share in the mighty work which the Lord only could perform. Do you receive that? Do you own your personal incapacity to aid in retrieving yourself from your own lost condition? For, when the 3 hours were passed, then followed the Divine declaration, "It is finished," and now as the effect uninterrupted sunshine flows on, even the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, grace in full, eternal light upon your soul, as surely as you own that darkness—its need and testimony—the love, all yours and all forever; for the barrier of righteous claim is now surmounted and removed by Him who was able single-handed to take up all the question of sin and lay it down again, settled forever, for God and for faith.

Reader, Believest thou this?

Israel's 3 days journey into the wilderness would be full witness to their separation from everything of Egypt to worship Jehovah.

Are not "Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai" the full expression of, and witness to, the giant power of the enemy? See Num. 13:22²²And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) (Numbers 13:22) &c.

In 1 Sam. 10:2²When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? (1 Samuel 10:2) on the minor matter of the asses, 2 men were to meet Saul and were enough to satisfy him that the asses were found; but in v. 3, 3 men carrying 3 kids and 3 loaves of bread and 1 bottle of wine should meet him, and in verse 5 "a company of prophets" also proving to Saul, "when these signs," three, "are come unto thee" that "God is with thee."

One or two groups of threes are added for study: Gideon's 300 men were divided into 3 companies (Judg. 7:16¹⁶And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. (Judges 7:16)), Abimelech's people also (Judg. 9:43⁴³And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. (Judges 9:43)), David's army, the same (in 2 Sam. 18:2²And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. (2 Samuel 18:2)), the Philistine spoilers (in 1 Sam. 13:17¹⁷And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: (1 Samuel 13:17)). Saul put the people into 3 companies (1 Sam. 11:11¹¹And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. (1 Samuel 11:11)). "The Chaldeans made out three bands" (Job 1:17¹⁷While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (Job 1:17)). A triple guard of "soldiers," "horsemen" and "spearsmen" at the third hour of the night, escorted Paul down to Caesarea (Acts 23:23²³And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; (Acts 23:23)).

Another distinct group is: Our Lord's triple prayer in Gethsemane. Paul's triple prayer (2 Cor. 12:8⁸For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (2 Corinthians 12:8)). Daniel prayed 3 times daily (Dan. 6:10¹⁰Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. (Daniel 6:10)). And David says, "Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Psa. 55:17¹⁷Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)). Was this the full expression of dependence?

"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).

Jordan was divided 3 times (Josh. 3-4, 2 Kings 2:8,14⁸And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. (2 Kings 2:8)
¹⁴And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. (2 Kings 2:14)). (Note: Egyptians did not cross Jordan at Jacob's funeral.)

The precious stones are 3 times enumerated: at creation in Ezek. 28:13¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:13), at the giving of law in Ex. 28, and in connection with the glory (Rev. 21).

A 3-fold claim is made upon us to "walk worthy" "of the vocation" (Eph. 4:1¹I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Ephesians 4:1)), "of the Lord" (Col. 1:10¹⁰That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)) and "of God" (1 Thess. 2:12¹²That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)).

Three characters of "crown" are mentioned in the New Testament. The crown of "life," of "righteousness" and of "glory."

"Eξουσια" title, or authority, is 3 times ascribed to God: in Luke 12:5⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12:5), Acts 1:7⁷And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:7) and Jude 25²⁵To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 25).

Our Lord, as Shepherd, is styled "good" in John 10:14¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:14), "great" in Heb. 13:20²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20), and "chief" in 1 Peter 5:4⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4).

He has a triple character as "Son": "Son of God," "Son of David," and "Son of Man." He is also Prophet, Priest and King.

"Gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" were brought to Him by the wise men (Matt. 2:11¹¹And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)).

His genealogy in Matt. is divided into three fourteen's.

Three times in Scripture is the glory of God said to be shown. By the heavens in Psa. 19:1¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1), in Moses' face (Ex. 34:29²⁹And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. (Exodus 34:29) & 2 Cor. 3:7⁷But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (2 Corinthians 3:7)), and again, "in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6⁶For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)).

In Eph. 1 the praise of God's glory is connected with counsel in eternity in v. 4-6, with time now, v. 12, and with full future blessing in v. 14.

The Old Testament was divided into the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)).

The dragon, the beast and the false prophet will be Satan's trinity of evil (Rev. 13).

7:4), "O earth, earth, earth" (Jer. 22:29²⁹O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. (Jeremiah 22:29)), "Overturn, overturn, overturn" (Ezek. 21:27²⁷I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:27)), beside the ascription "Holy, holy, holy" (Isa. 6 and Rev. 4).

Faith, hope and love, are connected in 5 places. Esther fasted 3 days. Daniel mourned 3 weeks. Saul fasted and was blind 3 days (Acts 9:9⁹And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (Acts 9:9)). Sapphira died 3 hours after Ananias.

Ezra dwelt in tents 3 days at Ahava, and rested 3 days at Jerusalem (Ch. 8:15, 32). Nehemiah also (Ch. 2:11).

Paul reasoned 3 months at Ephesus, for 3 Sabbaths at Thessalonica, abode 3 months in Greece, took 3 ships for his journey to Rome, cast out "tackling" on third day of storm, was courteously lodged 3 days by Publius, was 3 months at Melita, 3 days at Syracuse, was met at the Three Taverns and rested at Rome 3 days before he called the Jews together. "Thrice was I beaten with rods"... "thrice I suffered shipwreck" (2 Cor. 11:25²⁵Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (2 Corinthians 11:25)).

Noted threes of people include:

Shem, Ham, Japheth

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

Gershon, Kohath, Merari

Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar

Joab, Abishai, Asahel

Saul, David, Solomon

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

Noah, Daniel, Job (Ezek. 14:14¹⁴Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 14:14))

Peter, James, John

Cain, Balaam, Core

David had 3 mighty men, out of 30 chief (2 Sam. 23:13¹³And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. (2 Samuel 23:13)).

2 Cor. 12:2²I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2) tells of "the third heaven."

"Mene, Tekel, Peres" was God's solemn witness to Belshazzar and "In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain" (Dan. 5:30³⁰In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. (Daniel 5:30)). Reader! What shall be to you the result of God's solemn witness now: "the Spirit, the water and the blood"? Shall it be "life unto life" or "death unto death"?

Many 3's class, more or less distinctly, as above, but the number 3 invites much further study.

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