The study of numbers was a favorite one with some of the learned in ancient times. It would be a curious, but certainly not a profitable, piece of work to lay before the reader the strange fancies, and wild and extravagant speculations in the use of certain numbers, as the expression of the superstition and philosophy of the heathen world. Some of these numbers as then used, were not wholly destitute of a measure of truth. The scattered rays of Divine light now and again emitted from these and other symbols of heathen faith and superstition, only corroborate the apostle's account of the heathen world (Rom. 1). The study of Scripture numerals, however, will be found to yield no uncertain light, but will materially aid in the discovery of moral, dispensational, and prophetic glories. Need we say that here, as elsewhere, the regions of fancy and speculation must be shunned, and the student be content to be guided simply by the Spirit of God who leadeth into all truth. If this be done, the reader will find some interesting circumstances connected with Scripture numeration.
In the Lamentations of Jeremiah, we have a striking example of the use of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapters one, two, and four, consisting of 22 verses each, are arranged in strict alphabetical order, the 22 letters of the alphabet answering to the 22 verses in each chapter, and are found in the opening words of the verses. Our translation, of course, fails to convey this to the English reader; then, in chapter three, we have once more the letters of the Hebrew alphabet enumerated in order, but with three verses to each letter. Chapter five, although consisting of 22 verses, is not alphabetically arranged. To the Hebrews, who had neither paragraph, chapter, nor other division in their ancient writings, this Divine arrangement must have been extremely useful, and shows the condescending care of our God in thus aiding the memories of His people. Again, in the longest of the Psalms‒119th‒consisting of 22 sections of eight verses each, the Hebrew letters in alphabetical sequence head the sections
The Jewish writers had an exalted idea of their sacred language—perhaps the primitive language of man—and used the letters of their alphabet in many striking combinations, thus they reduced the 39 books comprising the Old Testament to 22; this they accomplished by coupling certain books and counting them as one. But the reader would do well to turn from the vagaries of man, which, at the most, contain but an element of truth to the WORD itself. Search these imperishable records, they contain the truth; they are the living source, the Divine fountain, while all else are but muddied channels.
ONE.
This numeral is the sign of Divine unity and absolute supremacy. We have a complete circle described in Eph. 4:4-64There 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), consisting of seven distinct unities as one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. Three is the sign of Divine manifestation, and seven of spiritual completeness. Notice then, dear reader, that the first three unities are the inward manifestations of God, as believers only are comprehended; the second three unities are the outward manifestations of God, as profession is contemplated, while the unity and supremacy of the whole is maintained by God "above," "through," and "in all," and lastly, as seven is the number denoting spiritual completeness, we have thus a complete, perfect, and unbroken circle described. However skeptical the reader may be upon the subject of Scripture numeration, he cannot, at least, question the evident design in the writing of this passage, which, if read in the light of the numbers we have indicated, will help immensely in grasping the wide and comprehensive scope of the Scripture as a whole.
We will turn to another interesting passage as showing the designed combination of certain numbers. In Ephesians 412For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12), we had numerals one, three, and seven; but in the Gospel of John 1712While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12), we have one, two, and four. The Divine unity of the Father and the Son; unity of the apostles in their extraordinary mission; unity of the disciples in present testimony, and their future unity in glory are taught in these heart-breathings of the blessed Lord. As four contemplates man and creation, and two fullness of testimony, we can readily see the value of these numbers in this grand chapter; the whole regard man as such, the first two affording testimony to BELIEVERS; the last two to the WORLD. Surely, too, we are taught the unity of the governmental attributes of Jehovah in the golden cherubim, being of one measure and one size (1 Kings 6:2525And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size. (1 Kings 6:25)). Is not the unity of the race, spite of the objections of the learned, expressly declared by Paul in the great and intellectual city of Athens (Acts 17:2626And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (Acts 17:26))? The professing church needs to be recalled to the meaning of this Divine number. Is she not gradually and surely slipping away from the unity of Christ's one sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 926For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)), and her unity of worship—one altar (2 Chron. 32:1212Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? (2 Chronicles 32:12))? These instances are only samples of what may be gleaned in the rich fields of Holy Scripture.
TWO.
The expression of ample and competent testimony is the meaning of this number. The two witnesses of the Apocalypse (Rev. 11:33And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3)), signify a full testimony borne to Christ in His royal and priestly rights in the coming days of the tribulation (Rev. 11:44These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (Revelation 11:4)). The two calves of gold set up by King Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:2828Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (1 Kings 12:28)), are the full expression of Israel's idolatry, while the ministry of the two prophets—Elijah and Elisha—furnish a full testimony on Jehovah's part to the idolatrous nation. The water and the blood which came from the pierced side of the Savior, were a two-fold witness to the efficacy of His death—the one being for purification of sin, the other for expiation of sin (John 19:3434But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34).; 1 John 5:66This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1 John 5:6)). The two pillars of brass (1 Kings 7:1515For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about. (1 Kings 7:15)) in the temple of old, bear their testimony to the enduring character of millennial glory. The testimony to Israel's moral condition is set forth in the two blind men (Matt. 10:2727What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. (Matthew 10:27)); while the Messiah-ship of Jesus to the nation was competently witnessed to by the disciples sent out two by two (Mark 6:77And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; (Mark 6:7)); the twelve apostles are named and described in pairs (Matt. 10:2-42Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. (Matthew 10:2‑4)). Jehovah's testimony of old to the full work of atonement, is expressed in the two birds, alive and clean (Lev. 14:44Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: (Leviticus 14:4)), and the two goats (Lev. 164He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. (Leviticus 16:4)). The two tables of the testimony (Deut. 4:1313And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. (Deuteronomy 4:13)) demanded righteousness from man. The two Testaments reveal God to man. The gold and the shittim-wood set forth the two-fold nature of the Lord as divine and human. Jesus is the second person in the God-head, and bears a double testimony to man's guilt and God's grace. "The testimony of two men is true" (John 8:1717It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. (John 8:17)), would surely, in connection with the Scriptures already referred to, along with Matt. 9:2727And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. (Matthew 9:27); Gen. 6:1919And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. (Genesis 6:19); Lev. 5:77And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. (Leviticus 5:7), etc., amply confirm the signification given to this number.
THREE.
This is a number of very frequent occurrence in the Scriptures, as the following list will show:-Three bear witness (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)); three persons in the God-head (Matt. 28:1919Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19)); threefold cry of the Seraphim (Isa. 6:33And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3)); three Christian graces (1 Cor. 13:1313And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13)); three languages in the title over the cross (Luke 23:3838And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:38)); three calls to the earth (Jer. 22:2929O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. (Jeremiah 22:29)); three times a year (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)); three cities of refuge (Deut. 4:4141Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; (Deuteronomy 4:41)); three times a day Daniel prayed (Dan. 6: 13); three men appeared to Abraham (Gen. 18:22And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, (Genesis 18:2)); three-fold priestly blessing (Num. 6:24-2624The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24‑26)); three times Peter denied Christ (Mark 14:7272And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. (Mark 14:72)); three times Peter beheld the vision (Acts 10:1616This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. (Acts 10:16)); three times Paul besought the Lord for the removal of the thorn (2 Con 12:8); three measures of meal (Matt. 13:3333Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Matthew 13:33)); Jonas three days and three nights; Son of Man three days and three nights (Matt. 12:4040For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)). Revelation 415And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15) and 5 will furnish a large number of similar instances.
This numeral, signifying Divine testimony and Divine completeness, may generally be regarded as the sign number of what is Divine; but certain Scriptures, as the third day in creation, the third in Christ's resurrection, and the third of Israel's revival, would also lead us to regard this number as the sign of resurrection in things moral, physical, and spiritual. (See the following texts:-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); Matt. 12:4040For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40); Hos. 6:22After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2); 1 Cor. 15:44And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4); Gen. 1: 11,12, etc.)
FOUR.
This number is evidently the sign of universality. It is generally employed when man, the world, or the whole scene of creation is contemplated; where largeness, breadth, and scope are in view, then this number is the one generally used. The following selection will satisfy even the incredulous on this point:-Four universal monarchies (Dan. 2 and 7.); four views of the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21.); four views of the earthly Jerusalem (Ezek. 48); four rivers fertilizing the earth (Gen. 2); four winds of heaven, four corners of the earth, four trumpets, and four living creatures (Rev.); "four sore judgments," "four faces," "four sides," and "four wings " (Ezek.); four horns and four workmen (Zech. 1:18-2118Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 19And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20And the Lord showed me four carpenters. 21Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. (Zechariah 1:18‑21)); four chariots (Zech. 6:11And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. (Zechariah 6:1)); and we have the four gospels to complete our abridged list.
FIVE.
This numeral is not of such frequent occurrence, and is thus not so easily read as those already considered, yet it has its own significance. We regard it as the expression of weakness. Would not David's five smooth stones with which he smote the giant, the five loaves so wondrously multiplied by Christ, five chasing an hundred (Lev. 26:88And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. (Leviticus 26:8)), flight at the rebuke of five (Isa. 30:1717One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. (Isaiah 30:17)), significantly express weakness as the import of this number? Israel went up out of Egypt by five in a rank (Ex. 13:1818But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 13:18), see margin; Josh. 1:1414Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them; (Joshua 1:14), see margin). Was that not weakness in contrast to the might of Egypt? But in such passages as Num. 5:77Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. (Numbers 5:7); Dan. 2:32,3332This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. (Daniel 2:32‑33); Matt. 25:22And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (Matthew 25:2), etc., human responsibility is evidently the teaching. This number and its multiplies are largely used in the measurements and arrangements of those parts of the tabernacle and temple which express human responsibility and testimony towards man. Five is a number specially connected with man, as the five books of Moses; the five books comprehended under the general title, "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)) as Job, Book of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon—and which lay bare the heart of man; the fifth book of Moses, which regards the people as a whole; the five parts of the Gentile image (Dan. 244And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44)); five words with my understanding (1 Cor. 14:1919Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19)). In this connection five is an interesting number.
SIX.
The root idea in this number is non-completeness—what is short of perfection. The six water pots of stone (John 2:66And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. (John 2:6)), according to Jewish ordinance, witnessed the imperfection of man and ordinances to bring in blessing; the continually recurring six days' labor shows the non-completeness of man's work—his work can never reach a full and final result; the six things which the Lord hates do not convey the thought of the completion of evil, "Yea seven (completeness) are an abomination unto Him" (Prov. 6:1616These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (Proverbs 6:16)); there is deliverance says Job in six troubles, but "in seven there shall no evil touch thee" (Job 5:1919He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. (Job 5:19))—there you have the final result. Solomon's glory comes short of perfection, hence the six steps to his ivory throne (1 Kings 10:1919The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. (1 Kings 10:19)) and his yearly revenue of gold-666 talents (1 Kings 10:1414Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, (1 Kings 10:14)). The number of the beast or world-power energized by Satan is 666 (Rev. 13:1818Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18)), and the number of Pharoah's chosen chariots were 600 (Ex. 14:77And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. (Exodus 14:7)), again expressing satanic power. Thus this number, and as variously multiplied, whether viewed in relation to man or Satan, ever present an incomplete result.
SEVEN.
Seven is more frequently employed in Scripture than any other symbolic numeral; the following list is capable of considerable extension. In Revelation alone, it occurs upwards of 50 times, as seven churches, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven angels, seven spirits, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, seven plagues, seven crowns, seven horns, seven eyes, seven thunders. Then we have seven nations destroyed (Acts 13:1919And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. (Acts 13:19)), and seven deacons chosen (Acts 6:33Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (Acts 6:3)); seven demons cast out (Mark 16:99Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. (Mark 16:9)); seven sons of Saul (2 Sam. 21:99And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. (2 Samuel 21:9)), and seven sons of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:1010Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. (1 Samuel 16:10)); seven times Naaman dipped in Jordan (2 Kings 5:1414Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:14)); seven altars and seven bullocks (Num. 23:2929And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. (Numbers 23:29)); seven priests and seven horns (Josh. 6:44And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. (Joshua 6:4)); the blood was sprinkled seven times before the mercy seat (Lev. 164He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. (Leviticus 16:4)); and the leper sprinkled seven times (Lev. 144Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: (Leviticus 14:4)). There were seven feasts of Jehovah; certain of the feasts lasted seven days. The Sabbath was the seventh day. Enoch was the seventh from Adam; Moses the seventh from Abraham. Seventy times seven is the measure of forgiveness (Matt. 18:2222Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:22)). This numeral is a characteristic one in all Divine matters, and, as it is composed of numbers three and four, the former the sign of divinity and the latter of creation, its abundant use in the Bible must impress the careful reader with its significance. Many of the sevens are clearly divided into four and three. This the reader will find helpful to carefully note, and which he may verify for himself in the seven kingdom parables of Matt. 1322He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22), in the seven feasts of Jehovah (Lev. 2322And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 23:22)), and in the seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials of the Apocalypse. We would understand this number as expressing spiritual perfection and completion, either of good or evil.
EIGHT.
We have "Resurrection" expressed in numbers three and eight; in the former, it is resurrection for man, on his behalf; in the latter, it is the believer's new place and new beginning in Christ risen. Seven completing the circle of God's ways on earth, eight would point to the eternal rest of God. This number, therefore, we regard as the sign of Resurrection, of Eternity, of a new Epoch. We submit the following texts in confirmation:-John 20:2626And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (John 20:26); Luke 9:2828And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28); 1 Peter 3:2020Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20); Gen. 21:44And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. (Genesis 21:4); Lev. 14:2323And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the Lord. (Leviticus 14:23); 2 Peter 2:55And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (2 Peter 2:5); John 7:3737In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37), etc.
NINE.
This may be a symbolic number, but of this we cannot speak with certainty. As original numbers multiplied express greater intensity of thought, it has been suggested that, as nine is a multiplication of three by three, the value of this latter number, but proportionately increased, must be sought for in the occurrences of "nine" in Holy Scriptures. It is several times used in the religious ordinances of old, Num. 29:2626And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: (Numbers 29:26); Lev. 25:2222And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store. (Leviticus 25:22). It is marked as the hour of prayer more than once in the New Testament, Acts 3:1; 3-301Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. (Acts 3:1); Luke 17:1717And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? (Luke 17:17). It is an hour marked off from every hour before or since that moment, when Christ gave utterance to His great agony, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Mark 15:3434And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34).) The darkness and the cry of desertion were both at the "ninth hour."
TEN.
This number measures responsibility towards God, as five does towards man. In the ten curtains, ten pillars, and ten sockets of the tabernacle, we have expressed responsibility to God; the same in the ten commandments, in which the prohibitory word "not" occurs ten times. We have also God "said," ten times repeated in Genesis 1. The people's failure in wilderness responsibility is expressed in the ten times they tempted Jehovah (Num. 14:22,2322Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: (Numbers 14:22‑23)). Pharaoh's responsibility to God is noted in the ten times he hardened his heart, and is measured in judgment by the ten plagues. This number is also found in the same signification in Rev. 175For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:5); Lev. 27:3232And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. (Leviticus 27:32); 1 Kings 7; Zech. 5:22And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. (Zechariah 5:2); Luke 15:88Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? (Luke 15:8). This numeral is of very frequent occurrence, and is often used in various multiplied forms in the ordinances of Israel, and in the tabernacle and temple measurements.
ELEVEN.
WE cannot say much upon this number, but it seems to us as if it presented incompleteness of earthly administration. Divine authority administered on or towards the earth, is expressed in the number "twelve," and, as eleven is short of that, we gather that the signification given is correct; thus, Jehoiakim reigned eleven years (2 Kings 23:3636Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. (2 Kings 23:36)); and Zedekiah, last king of Judah, eleven years (2 Kings 24:1818Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. (2 Kings 24:18)); thus the administration of royal authority comes short in these reigns. Again we have the eleven disciples (Matt. 28:1616Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (Matthew 28:16)) and eleven apostles (Acts 1:2626And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26)); eleven stars (Gen. 37:99And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. (Genesis 37:9)); eleven sons (Gen. 32:2222And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. (Genesis 32:22)); eleven curtains (Ex. 26:7,87And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. 8The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure. (Exodus 26:7‑8)); eleven cities (Josh. 15:5050And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, (Joshua 15:50); and eleventh hour (Matt. 20:6-96And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. (Matthew 20:6‑9)). It will be observed that in all these instances incompleteness of administration is signified.
TWELVE.
This number signifies the administration of Divine government on or over the earth; also regarded as the sign of Israel's unity, as in the twelve cakes of shewbread (Lev. 24:55And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. (Leviticus 24:5)); "one bread" or loaf is the expression of church unity (1 Cor. 10:1717For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:17)). The government of the glorified saints over creation is viewed in Rev. 215And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:5); there are twelve gates, twelve angels, twelve foundations, twelve pearls, twelve apostles, twelve tribes, twelve manner of fruits. The special government of Israel is committed to the twelve apostles, who will sit on twelve thrones (Matt. 19:2828And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)). Israel's place of supremacy and administrative authority amongst the nations, is set forth in her twelve gates (Ezek. 48:31-3431And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 32And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. (Ezekiel 48:31‑34)). Then we have twelve patriarchs (Acts 7:88And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. (Acts 7:8)); twelve precious stones in the breast-plate (Ex. 28:2121And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. (Exodus 28:21)); twelve legions of angels (Matt. 26:5353Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53)), twelve stones taken out of the Jordan, and twelve stones put into the Jordan (Josh. 4:8,98And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day. (Joshua 4:8‑9)); twelve wells of water (Ex. 15:2727And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. (Exodus 15:27)); twelve oxen (1 Kings 7:2525It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. (1 Kings 7:25)). Christ at twelve years of age is found amongst the doctors at Jerusalem, and Solomon, when twelve years old, decided the question as to the mother of the living child.
THIRTEEN.
So far as we know, this is not a symbolic number, and its occurrence is but rare in Scripture. It is an interesting circumstance, however, that the present descendants of Ishmael circumcise their male youths when they reach the age of thirteen. Ishmael, it will be remembered, was circumcised when he was thirteen years old, the rite moreover, was confined to the line of Isaac, and to be administered when eight days old (Gen. 17:2525And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (Genesis 17:25)).
FORTY.
This number is a very frequent one in the Scriptures. It expresses a period of full trial and probation. A few clear instances of the use of this number will show its signification. Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, where, "with the wild beasts," He was tempted forty days. Matthew informs us that Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights, thus, as the dependent man trusting in Jehovah, He was fully tried, and in every way tested, and, not only for forty days, but besides, for forty nights. During that long probationary period, He waited in patience for the coming-in of Jehovah—He lived upon His every word; the trial only brought out His deep perfection as man, and His obedience as servant and minister of His Father's grace. Israel's forty years' wanderings in the wilderness was the full testing and proving of the people; and what was the result? murmurs and complaints. Moses lived forty years in the court of Pharaoh—a full term, for manhood was then reached (Heb. 11:2424By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (Hebrews 11:24))—he there acquired those essential qualifications which shone so pre-eminently in the law-giver, but which he could renounce for the reproach of Christ; again, he spent forty years in Horeb, another full period of trial and moral preparation for the work assigned Him in conducting the Lord's redeemed through the wilderness, this service also lasting forty years. The reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon each extended during the full period of forty years. God would visit the haughty spirit of Egypt with a forty years period of judgment and desolation (Ezek. 29:13,1413Yet thus saith the Lord God; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: 14And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. (Ezekiel 29:13‑14)). Nineveh was threatened with judgment after the probationary period of forty days had run its course; wisely they employed the time in repenting and seeking the Lord, and so averted the judgment. Isaac's age—forty years—when he married, and Esau's age, also forty when married, are circumstances to be regarded in the light of this symbolic number. The spies were out viewing the land forty days; Moses was forty days and forty nights in the mount with God; Elijah fasted forty days and forty nights; punishment by stripes was restricted to forty (Deut. 25:33Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deuteronomy 25:3)); an Israelitish mother's purification after the birth of a man-child was forty days (Lev. 12:2-42Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. (Leviticus 12:2‑4)); and Ezekiel (Ezek. 4:66And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. (Ezekiel 4:6)) was to bear the iniquity of Judah forty days—a day for a year. Full trial and testing, with the object of bringing out what is of man, and to strengthen what God has wrought in the soul is very clearly the teaching of these and numerous other texts containing the same number.
We have other numbers—as seventy, one hundred and twenty, and one hundred and forty four-which convey their own lessons to those who are willing patiently to learn; but we need not pursue the subject further, as these multiplied numbers will yield their meaning and precious lessons too by adding together the value of the respective figures necessary to form the larger numeral. Thus in forty we have the combination of four and ten, besides the ten, four times repeated, thus expressing greater intensity in the thought attached to that numeral; again in seven, we have four and three; in one hundred and forty-four, 12 by 12.
"Thousands of thousands" signify countless myriads.
Satan counterfeits those numbers to which what is Divine is attached, as three, seven, ten. For this, consult the Apocalypse where Satan's last actings in the closing days are described.
The following extract is from an excellent article on this subject in Helps for Wayfarers-a Canadian publication of real merit:—
"The books of the Old Testament are 36 in number (counting Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as one book each, as is really the fact). The simplest division of 36 is into 3 by 12. Put this into meaning according to the symbolism of these figures, and what do we find? Three is the Divine and 12 the governmental number; taken together they give you ‘God in government’. What preciser definition could we have for the books of the Law?
"But the books of the New Testament are 27 in number. And this is the cube of three: it is 3 times 3 times 3; the most absolutely perfect number that can be, the only one into which none but the symbol of Divine fullness enters or can enter. Thus it is God and only God—God in His own absolute perfection—revealed in the New Testament pages—in the gospel of His grace.
"According to the common reckoning in our Bibles, Christ was born into the world in about the 4000th year of it. Now examine this date according to already-established principles. For forty centuries, then (less or more), the world's probation lasted, and this forty as we have already seen to be the mark and measure of full probation.
"But whence the other factor? Whence the century? Let us only consider that Isaac was a type of the true ‘Child of Promise’, and then we shall easily remember that his birth took place when Abraham's body was now dead, when he was about a hundred years old.... How significant and easily applicable to One greater far! born in the fortieth century of the world's probation, when all flesh was seen as dead, and in the power of God new life began for man in Christ."
"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Rev. 5:11,1211And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:11‑12)).