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Number in Scripture
Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance By
E. W. Bullinger
(1837-1913)
Fourth Edition, Revised
London
Eyre & Spottiswoode (Bible Warehouse) Ltd.
33. Paternoster Row, E.C.
1921
This book is in the Public Domain.Copy Freely
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Table of Contents
Preface
PART I
SUPERNATURAL DESIGN
CHAPTER 1
THE WORKS OF GOD
The Heavens
Chronology
Nature
The Vegetable Kingdom
Physiology
Chemistry
Sound and Music
Colour
CHAPTER II
THE WORD OF GOD
The Books of the Bible
The Writers
Occurrences of Words in Old
Testament
Occurrences of Words in
New Testament
Occurrences of Words in the
Apocalypse
Occurrences of Phrases
Evidence as to Authorship of
Hebrews and 2 Peter
Occurrences of Words and
Phrases in Old and New
Testaments combined
PART II
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Introduction
One Two Three Four Five Six Seven
Six and Seven together
Seven by itself
Eight
Eight and Seven together
Eight by itself
Eight and Thirteen together
Nine Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Seventeen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
Twenty-nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
Forty
Forty-two
Fifty
Fifty-one
Sixty-five
Seventy
One hundred and twenty
One hundred and fifty and
three
Two hundred
Three hundred and ninety
Four hundred
Four hundred and thirty
Four hundred and ninety
Six hundred and sixty-six
Conclusion
Preface
Many writers, from the earliest times, have called attention to the impo rtance of the great subject of Number in Scripture. It has been dealt with, for the most part, in a fragmentary way. One has dealt with some particular number, such as "seven"; another has been con tent with a view of the primary numbers, and even when defining their significance, has given on ly one or two examples by way of illustration; another has confined himself to "symbol ical numbers," such as
10, 40, 666, etc.; another has taken up such symbolical numbers in their
relation to chronology or to prophecy; another has collected examples, but has dealt little wit h their meaning. There seemed, therefore, to be room, and indeed a call, for a work which would be more complete, embrace a larger area, and at the same time be free from the m any fancies which all, more or less, indulge in when the mind is occupied too much with one sub ject. Anyone who values the importance of a particular principle will be tempted to see i t where it does not exist, and if it be not there will force it in, in spite sometimes of the origi nal text. Especially is this the case when chronology is dealt with, the greater uncertainty of dates len ding itself more readily to the author's fancy. The greatest work on this subject, both chronological and numerical, is not free from these defects. But its value is nevertheless very great. It is by the late Dr.
Milo Mahan, of New York.
His work
Palmoni*
, which was republished among his collected works, has long been out of print. It greatly increased my interest in this subject, and led me to f urther study, besides furnishing a number of valuable illustrations. * Not the anonymous
Palmoni
by an English author, published in London. It is too much to hope that the present work should be free from these d efects, which are inseparable from human infirmity. From one point of view it is a subject which must prove disappointing, at any rate to the author, for illustrations are continua lly being discovered; and yet, from another point of view, it would be blasphemy to suppose that s uch a work could be complete; for it would assume that the wonders of this mine could be exh austed, and that its treasures could be all explored! I must, therefore, be content with the setting forth of general principl es, and with giving a few examples from God's Word which illustrate them, leaving others to extend the application of these principles and search out illustrations of them for themselves. May the result of this contribution to a great subject be to stimulate t he labours of Bible students; to strengthen believers in their most holy faith; and to convi nce doubters of the Divine perfection and inspiration of the Book of Books, to the praise and glory of God.
E.W. BULLINGER
17 North End Road,
Golders Green, N.W.
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PART I
ITS SUPERNATURAL DESIGN
Chapter I
DESIGN SHOWN IN THE WORKS OF GOD
"Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand;
And meted out heaven with a span;
And comprehended the dust of the
earth in a measure,
And weighed the mountains in scales,
And the hills in a balance?" (Isa
40:12)
"The works of the LORD are great,
Sought out of all them that have
pleasure therein." (Psa 111:2) There can be neither works nor words without number. We can understand h ow man can act and speak without design or significance, but we cannot imagine that the great and infinite Creator and Redeemer could either work or speak without both His words and His works being ab solutely perfect in every particular. "As for God His WAY is perfect" (Psa 18:30). "The Law of the LORD is p erfect" (Psa 19:7). They are both perfect in power, perfect in holiness and righteousness, perfect in design, perfect in execution, perfect in their object and end, and, may we not say, perfect in number. "The LORD is righteous in all His ways: and holy in all His works" (Psa
145:17).
All His works were (and are) done, and all His words were spoken and w ritten, in the right way, at the right time, in the right order, and in the right number. "He telleth the number of the stars" (Psa 147:4). He "bringeth out their host by number" (Isa 40:26). "He weigheth the w aters by measure" (Job 28:25). We may, therefore, say with David: "I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands" (Psa
143:5).
In all the works of God we find not only what we call "Law," and a Law-m aker, but we observe a Law enforcer. We speak of laws, but they are nothing in themselves. They hav e no being; they possess no power; they cannot make themselves, or carry themselves out. What we mea n when we speak of law in nature is simply this: God in action; God not merely giving or making la ws, but carrying them out and enforcing them. As He is perfect, so His works and His words also must be perfect. And w hen we see number used not by chance, but by design; not at haphazard, but with significance; then we see not merely so many works and words, but the Living God working and speaking. In this first part of our subject we are to speak only of design in the use of number; and in the second part, of significance. In this first chapter we will confine our thought s to design as it is seen in the works of God; and in the second, as it is seen in the Word of God. When we see the same design in each; the same laws at work; the same mys terious principles being carried out in each, the conviction is overwhelming that we have the sam e great Designer, the same Author; and we see the same Hand, the same seal stamped on all His works , and the same signature or autograph, as it were, upon every page of His Word. And that, not an aut ograph which may be torn off or obliterated, but indelible, like the water-mark in the paper; so impress ed upon and interwoven with it that no power on earth can blot it out.
Let us turn first to
THE HEAVENS
Here we see number displayed in a remarkable manner. The 12 signs of the
Zodiac, each with three
constellations, making 36 in all, which together with the 12 signs make a total of 48. There must be a reason, therefore, why the number 12 should thus pervade the heavens. Wh y should 12 be the predominating factor? Why should it not be 11, or 13, or 7, or 20? Because 12 is one of the four perfect numbers, the number of governmenta l perfection; hence it is associated with the rule of the heavens, for the sun is given "to rule t he day," and the moon "to govern the night." The significance of this, however, must be deferred till we come to consider the number "twelve" under this head. It is enough for us now to notice the fact her e, upon the threshold of our subject, that we have one common measure, or factor, which is seen in th e 12 signs of the Zodiac, the 36 (3x12) constellations,* the total 48 (4x12); the 360 (12x30) degre es, into which the great circle of the heavens is divided. No one can tell us why the number of degrees was fir st fixed at 360. It has come down to us from ancient times, and is used universally without a question.**
And it is this division of the
Zodiac which gives us the 12 months of the Zodiacal year. This is called also the Prophetic year, for it is the year which is used in the prophecies of the Bible.*** * There are other modern constellations now: Hevelius (1611-1687) adde d twenty-two; Halley (1656-1742) added fifteen. But every one knows how different these are from the ancient constellations, both in their names, their character, and their utter ab sence of all significance. ** It probably arises from the product of the four numbers, 3, 4, 5, 6, which arise out of the phenomena which lie at the root of Geometrical and Arithmetical Science.
3 x 4 x 5 x 6 = 360,
while 360 x 7 = 2520. *** There are different or relative kinds of years, according as we reck on the revolutions of the sun in relation to certain objects, e.g.: (1.) In relation to the equi noctial points. The time taken by the sun to return to the same equinoctial point is called the Solar y ear (also the Civil, or Tropical year), and consists of 365.2422414 solar days (or 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 49.7 seconds). (2.) In relation to the stars. The time taken by the sun to return to the same fixed star is called the Sidereal year, and consists of 365.2563612 solar days (or
365 days 6 hours 9
minutes 9.6 seconds). (3.) In relation to his own orbit. The time tak en by the sun to return to the same point in his own orbit is called the Anomalistic year, and consists of 365.2595981 solar days (or 365 days 6 hours 13 minutes 49.3 seconds). The word "Anomalis tic" means irregular, and this kind of year is so called because from it the first irregularit ies of planetary motion were discovered. Here, then, is an example of number as it is used in the heavens. Twelve is the pervading factor.
CHRONOLOGY
It is not necessary to go into the intricacies of this vast part of our subject. Notwithstanding the fact that God gave to man these heavenly time-keepers, he has so misused the gift (as he has every other gift which God has ever given him) that he cannot tell you now what year it really is! No subject is in more hopeless confusion, made worse by those who desire the dates to fit in w ith their theories of numbers, instead of with the facts of history. We shall, therefore, avoid man's use of numbers. Our only concern in thi s work is with God's use of them. Here we shall find both design and significance. Here, therefore, we sha ll find that which is certain and full of interest. The first natural division of time is stamped by the Number seven. On th e seventh day God rested from
His work of Creation.
When He ordained the ritual for Israel which should show forth His work of Redemption, seven is again stamped upon it in all its times and seasons. The seventh day was the ho ly day; the seventh month was specially hallowed by its number of sacred festivals; the seventh year w as the Sabbatic year of rest for the land: while 7 x 7 years marked the year of Jubilee (Lev 25:4,8). Thirty jubilees bring us from the Exodus to the opening of Christ's mini stry, when, opening Isaiah 61:2, He proclaimed "the acceptable year of the Lord" in a seven-fold prophecy (see Luke 4:18-21). The great symbolical divisions of Israel's history, or rather of the tim es of God's dealings with them, are marked by the same number; and if we confine ourselves to duration of ye ars rather than to the succession of years and chronological dates; with kairoV (kairos), season, a definitely limited portion of time, rather than with cronoV (chronos), time, the course of time in general* (hence our word "chronology"), - we shall have no difficulty. * In modern Greek kairoV has come to mean weather, and cronoV , year, thus preserving the essential distinction between the two words. God's dealings with His people have to do with actual duration of time r ather than with specific dates; and we find that His dealings with Israel were measured out into four pe riods, each consisting of 490 (70 times 7) years. Thus: -
The 1st. From Abraham to the Exodus.
The 2nd. The Exodus to the Dedication of Temple.
The 3rd. From the Temple to Nehemiah's return.
The 4th. From Nehemiah to the Second Advent.
It is clear that these are periods of duration having regard only to Isr ael, and to Jehovah's immediate dealings with them. For in each one there is a period of time during whi ch He was not immediately governing them, but in which His hand was removed, and His people were w ithout visible tokens of His presence with them.
1. From the birth of Abraham to the Exodus Years Total
From the birth of Abraham to the Exodus was
actually (Gen 12:4,
16:3 and 21:5)* 505
But deducting the 15 years while Ishmael was Abram's seed, delaying the seed of promise - 15
Leaving the
first
70 x 7 of years 490
*Abraham was 75 years old when the promise (Gen 12:4) was made to him.
The Law was given
430 years after (Exo 12:40; Gal 3:17). But 430 and 75 make 505 years,
or 15 years over the
490. How are we to account for this gap of 15 years as forming part of t
he 505 years? The answer is that at Abraham's departure into Canaan (12:4) he was 75 yea rs old, Ishmael was born 10 years after (16:3), therefore Abraham was 85 years old at Ishm ael's birth. But he was
100 years old when Isaac was born (21:5). Therefore it follows that th
ere were 15 years (100 minus 85=15) during which Ishmael was occupying and usurping the place of the "promised seed"; and 15 from 505 leaves 490. Here then we have the first of the se venty-seven of years, and the first "gap" of 15 years.
2. From the Exodus to the foundation of the Temple, according
to Acts 13:20:* Years Total
In the Wilderness 40
Under the Judges 450
Saul 40
David 40
Solomon (1 Kings 6:1,37) 3
But from these we must deduct the Captivities under 573
Cushan (Judges 3:8) 8
Eglon (Judges 3:14) 18
Jabin (Judges 4:3) 20
Midianites (Judges 6:1) 7
Philistines (Judges 13:1)** 40 93
Leaving 480
To this we must add the years during which the Temple was in building, for the finishing of the house (1 Kings 6:38) 7 And at least for the furnishing and ending of all the work (1 Kings
7:13-51)***
3
Making altogether the
second
70 x 7 of years 490
* The actual number of years was 573, according to Acts 13:20. But 1 Kin gs 6:1 says: "It came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Isr ael were come out of Egypt...he began to build the house of the LORD." Therefore commentators immediately conclude that the book is wrong. It never seems to dawn on them that the y can be wrong. But they are, because the number is ordinal, not cardinal, and it does not s ay four hundred and eighty years, but " eightieth year." The 480th from or of what? Of the duration of God's dealings with His people, deducting the 93 years while He had "sold them" into th e hands of others. Thus there is no discrepancy between 1 Kings 6:1 and Acts 13:20. In the Acts the actual number of years is stated in a cardinal number; while in the Kings a certain recko ning is made in an ordinal number, and a certain year in the order of God's dealings with H is people is named. And yet by some, the inspiration of Acts 13:20 is impugned, and various shifts are resorted to, to make it what man thinks to be correct. The RV adopts an ancient punct uation which does not after all remove the difficulty; while in the Speaker's Commentary the w ords in 1 Kings 6:1 are printed within brackets, as though they were of doubtful authority. ** The 18 years of Judges 10:8 were part of the joint 40 years' oppressi on; on the one side Jordan by the Philistines, and on "the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites" by the
Ammonites.
*** For in 1 Kings 8:2 it was dedicated in the seventh month, though it was finished in the eighth month. Therefore it could not have been the same year; and it may well have required three years for the completion of all the interior work described in 1 K ings 7:13-51.
3. From the Dedication of the Temple to Nehemiah's return in
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