![]() During the “great flood”, it rained for forty days and nights. ![]() ![]() These ideas go hand-in-hand and are seen in all scenes showing the significance of the numeral forty. Authors, at, go on to state that it generally represents, “ a new chapter of the history of the salvation” ( ). This assessment fits the majority of the scenes above, but what about the flood?Īccording to Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis of, forty is, “ designating a time of radical transition or transformation” ( ). So why forty? What does this numeral represent? According to, the number forty represents, ” a period of testing, trial or probation“( ). All of these instances lead to huge peaks in the narrative and therefore must be significant. For instance, during the great flood, it rained for forty days and forty nights, the Israelites wondered in the wilderness for forty years, and Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days waiting on instruction from the protagonist. This number is much more repetitive throughout the Old Testament than twelve. My next question is in regards to the significance behind the number forty. Since a lot of the newly converted christians were former Jews, they will understand the correlation of the apostles to the twelve tribes and will therefore attach with these men the divine authority that was also associated with the twelve tribes. The combination suggests a divine perfection or totality of government established through this group of men. This number will also further the narrative later when the twelve apostles are established. When combined we gain a better understanding of why there were twelve tribes of Israel. ![]() I believe Fairchild’s opinion is the most accurate, however, I also believe it’s important to put both interpretations together in order to establish the most accurate portrayal of the significance of the number twelve. Each tribe has its own heads and miniature forms of government to make sure each group was doing their part. This theory is also very applicable as well. She infers that it, “ relates to divine government” ( ). Mary Fairchild of, has a related, but different opinion. Since each tribe was given a specific function with the collective whole of the Israelite people, it gives way to the image of puzzle pieces working together to make a picture. This idea correlates perfectly with the Hebrew narrative. explains that the number twelve represents, “ a kind of totality” () . Is there any other reason hidden below the surface? I believe that there most definitely is a deeper meaning.Īccording to numerology, certain numbers represent or symbolism ideas. The question is why twelve? Why not another biblically important number like 7 or 4? The simplest answer to the significance of the number of tribes is that there were twelve sons of Israel. The most significant and widely known occurrence of this number in the Old Testament is the institution of the twelve tribes of Israel. Specifically I want to look at the significance of the numbers twelve ( Deut 1:23) and forty ( Deut 10:10) to the Hebrew culture and how do they advance the narrative?įirst, let’s consider the number 12. What was the significance of certain numbers being repeated? Was this a coincidence or did they have a symbolic significance to the Hebrew people? Numerology is something that has always been interesting to me so I decided to base this week’s blog around it. Reading through Deuteronomy this week I noticed several numbers being repeated.
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