Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NUMBERS

Although archaeological discoveries of a monetary system evidence a concept of numbering in the “preliterate” Middle East, one does not encounter written examples of numerics until the Proto-Sumerian era with the inscriptions on clay tablets from Uruk in southern Mesopotamia (3000 b.c.e.). These display decimal (10), duodecimal (12), and sexagesimal (60) units of numbering. The oldest mathematical text indicating an advanced use of numbers has been located at the Sumerian city of Shuruppak (ca. 2650). The Egyptians had a comprehensive decimal system which included symbols for whole numbers as high as 1 million and also some fractions. Ebla texts also provide evidence for a decimal system of numbering from as early as the 3rd millennium in Syro-Palestine. Probably influenced by the Egyptians, Israel showed a preference for the decimal system of numbering.

It is apparent that the majority of literate ancient cultures used symbols as the preferred method to express numbers. However, other forms were also used. Some cultures employed the acrophonic system, using the first letter of a word naming or suggesting the number to represent the number. Others used the alphabetic system, representing the numeric units by the successive characters of the alphabet. Still others wrote the number out in full alphabetic script.

The sacred literature of Israel was biased toward writing numbers out in full. However, archaeological finds indicate that symbols were commonly used in the public literary practices of ancient Israel. During the Maccabean period (168-40), Greek influence led to Jewish adaptation of an alphabetic system of numbering. Although the Greeks utilized acrophonic, alphabetic, and symbolic methods, numbers in the Greek NT are always written in full.

Five Hebrew terms are used in the OT: sāpar, “to count” (Lev. 25:8; 2 Sam. 24:10); mispār, “numeric amount” (Judg. 7:6; Ps. 147:4); mānâ, “to enumerate” (Gen. 13:16; Num. 23:10; 2 Kgs. 12:11); minyān, “a specific number” (Ezra 6:17); pāqaḏ, “to take inventory/a census” (1 Sam. 11:8; 13:5). Three Greek terms are used in the NT: arithméō, “to count” (Matt. 10:30 par.; Rev. 7:9); arithmós, “a number” (Luke 22:3; John 6:10; Acts 6:7; Rev. 13:18); psēphízō, “to calculate” (Luke 14:28; Rev. 13:18).

While critical scholarship questions the validity of the apparently inflated numbers that often occur in the biblical record, the original authors intended them to be taken at face value. The high ages of the prediluvian patriarchs are obviously meant to be taken literally, since the ages of the postdiluvian patriarchs come from the same source (e.g., Gen. 5; 9:28-29; 11; 25:7; 47:28). Also, the census numbers of the Israelite population and various armies are meant to show Israel’s strength (e.g., Num. 1-3; Judg. 20).

Symbolic Numbers

Numbers in the Bible often have symbolic or idiomatic application. Three (Heb. šālōš; Gk. treís) indicates completeness. There are three major pilgrimage feasts for Israelite males (Exod. 23:14-19); three standard times for Jewish prayers (Dan. 6:10; Ps. 55:17[MT 18]); three sections to the universe (Phil. 2:10); three sections in the sanctuary (1 Kgs. 6:2-22); and special efficacy of three-year-old sacrifices (Gen. 15:9; 1 Sam. 1:24). Jonah was in the sea creature’s belly three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17), and Jesus was in the tomb three days (Matt. 12:40).

Four (Heb. ʾarbaʿ; Gk. téssares) indicates boundaries. There are four corners of the earth (Isa. 11:12); four winds (Jer. 49:36; Dan. 7:2); four chariots patrolling the earth (Zech. 6:1-5); four rivers proceeding from Eden (Gen. 2:10-14); four living creatures surrounding the divine throne (Ezek. 1:10; Rev. 4:6-7); and four horsemen (6:2-8).

Seven (Heb. šeḇaʿ; Gk. heptá) indicates rest, fulfillment, and restoration: God rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:2-3; Exod. 20:11); seven animals seal a business transaction (Gen. 21:28); Pharaoh dreams of seven lean years and seven plentiful ones (41:1-36); the land is to lie fallow every seven years (Lev. 25:2-7); seven men are appointed as administrators in the early Church (Acts 6:1-6); the most potent anti-Christ beast has seven heads (Rev. 17:7); the restoration of the earth takes place during the seventh seal and the seventh trumpet (8:1–9:21; 11:15), and after the seventh plague (16:17-21).

Multiples of seven also have significance: e.g., 70 elders (Exod. 24:1, 9); Judah’s captivity in Babylon is 70 years (Jer. 25:12; 29:10; Dan. 9:2); 70 prophetic weeks (490 years) are decreed for the Jews (Dan. 9:24). Jesus commissions 70 disciples (Luke 10:1-17); Jubilee occurs after 49 years when debts are canceled and slaves released (Lev. 25:8-55); the number of times to forgive is 70 times seven (Matt. 18:21-22); the extent of vengeance is 77-fold (Gen. 4:24).

Ten (Heb. ʿeśer; Gk. déka) indicates completion. God gave Moses 10 commandments (Exod. 34:28); there were 10 plagues against Egypt (Exod. 7:8–11:10); the tithe was 10 percent of a person’s increase (Deut. 26:12); 10 virgins await the coming of the bridegroom (Matt. 25:1-13); the final apocalyptic anti-Christ power is represented by 10 horns, 10 kings, and 10 toes (Dan. 2:42; 7:7, 24; Rev. 17:7, 12).

Twelve (Heb. šĕnêm ʿāśār; Gk. dṓdeka) indicates order. There are 12 tribes of Israel (Gen. 49:28; Exod. 28:21; Josh. 3:12); 12 sons of Ishmael; 12 apostles (Matt. 10:1; Luke 9:1); 12 baskets spare after the feeding of the 5 thousand (Matt. 14:20); 12 gates, 12 foundations, and 12 fruits in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12, 14, 21). Multiples of 12 include the total number of the eschatological saved, 144 thousand (Rev. 7:4-17; 14:3-5); the New Jerusalem is 12 thousand furlongs (21:16).

Forty (Heb. ʾarbāʿîm; Gk. tessarákonta) indicates a complete cycle. The flood rains fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights (Gen. 7:12); it took 40 days and nights for Moses to receive instructions about the sanctuary (Exod. 24:18); the wilderness generation wandered for 40 years (Exod. 16:35; Num. 14:20-23); the periods of the judges are sometimes enumerated by 40-year intervals (Judg. 3:11; 5:31; 8:28); Nineveh is given 40 days notice of impeding destruction (Jonah 3:4); Jesus is tempted for 40 days (Mark 1:12 par.).

One thousand (Heb. ʾelep; Gk. chiliás, chílioi) indicates a very large number. God’s love is extended to the thousandth generation of commandment keepers (Deut. 5:10); a thousand days is used to define an indefinite period of time (Ps. 84:10[11]; 2 Pet. 3:8); the 144 thousand comprise a group that none can number (Rev. 7:9); Satan is bound for a thousand years (20:3, 7), the span of the interval between the first resurrection and the second death (20:6, 11-15).

Bibliography. J. J. Davis, Biblical Numerology (Grand Rapids, 1968).

Keith A. Burton

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NUMBERS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)