Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
by E.W. Bullinger

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PART II
ITS SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

EIGHT

In Hebrew the number eight is hnm# (Sh'moneh), from the root Nm# (Shah'meyn), "to make fat," "cover with fat," "to super-abound." As a participle it means "one who abounds in strength," etc. As a noun it is "superabundant fertility," "oil," etc. So that as a numeral it is the superabundant number. As seven was so called because the seventh day was the day of completion and rest, so eight, as the eighth day, was over and above this perfect completion, and was indeed the first of a new series, as well as being the eighth. Thus it already represents two numbers in one, the first and eighth. Let us first consider the connection between

 

EIGHT AND SEVEN TOGETHER

Just as we saw the connection between the numbers six and seven together (pp. 158-167), so we must note the remarkable connection between seven and eight when used together.

Seven means, as we have seen, according to its etymology, that which is spiritually complete or satisfying; while eight denotes that which is superabundant or satiating. Hence we often find these two numbers associated with these distinctions.

 

JEHOVAH'S COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM

were eight in number; seven before Isaac was offered up, and the eighth when he had been received "in a figure" from the dead.

  1. Gen 12:1-3, sovereignty.
  2. Gen 12:7, the seed.
  3. Gen 13:14-17, Divine assurance, rising and walking on resurrection ground.
  4. Gen 15:13-21, the limits of the land; the 400 years; the 4th generation.
  5. Gen 17:1-22, invincible grace.
  6. Gen 18:9-15, human failure and imperfection.
  7. Gen 21:12, Spiritual blessing headed up in the seed.
  8. Gen 22:15-18, resurrection blessing.

The first three are marked off from the others by the words "after these things," 15:1. The next four are marked off from the eighth by similar separating words, repeated in 22:1.

It will be noted that each covenant blessing is stamped with the character of its numerical significance.

 

JOSEPH'S TYPICAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH HIS BRETHREN

were eight in number. Seven times before Jacob's death, and an eighth time after.

  1. In Genesis 37:6, he tells his dream about the sheaves of wheat (earthly glory).
  2. His second dream about the sun, moon, and stars (heavenly glory, completing the double witness of John 3:12).
  3. His message of love to them from his father, when he is rejected and cast into the pit, but raised (unknown to them) to the right hand of power.
  4. They are compelled to go to Joseph, Genesis 42.
  5. Again they go, Genesis 43:15.
  6. A third time (Gen 44:13), when Joseph proclaims himself. Three times they had denied him. Three times they have to go to him; and the third time, after deep exercise of heart, reach the place of blessing. But it is (like the No. 6) incomplete. It needs the
  7. "And Israel [no longer Jacob] took his journey with all that he had" (Gen 46). Nothing more is to be desired, so he says, "Now let me die, since I have seen thy face," etc. (v 30). The history is spiritually complete; but there remains another communication.
  8. Jacob has passed away, and they are face to face with Joseph, a type of Christ in resurrection glory (Gen 50:15, etc.).

 

EXODUS 21:23-25

There are eight particulars in connection with punishment; but seven stand in a different category, not being possible if the eighth were inflicted, viz., "Life for life."

1. Life for life, 8
2. Eye for eye, 7
3. Tooth for tooth,
4. Hand for hand,
5. Foot for foot,
6. Burning for burning,
7. Wound for wound,
8. Stripe for stripe.

 

EXODUS 40

Seven times we have the phrase "As the LORD commanded Moses,"* and once (v 16), "according to all that the LORD commanded him."

* Verse 23, "had commanded," is the same as the other six in the Hebrew.

 

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

was the only feast which was kept eight days. The eighth is distinguished from the seventh. See Leviticus 23:39, and compare verses 34-36; Numbers 29:39, and Nehemiah 8:18.

 

2 CHRONICLES 6

Eight appeals of Solomon for his prayer to be heard. Seven times, "Hear Thou from heaven," and once (v 21), "Hear Thou from thy dwelling-place, from heaven." Similarly in 1 Kings 8, the parallel passage.

 

ISAIAH 5:1, 2

There are eight sentences describing the vineyard, but seven give the characteristics, and one the result.

 

THE STEPS IN EZEKIEL'S TEMPLE

Seven led into the outer court (40:22,26), and eight led from the outer to the inner (40:31,34,37).*

* How many led into the Temple the Hebrew Text does not say. The Septuagint says there were ten. See verse 49, RV text and margin.

The seven led from labour to rest, the eight from rest to worship.

 

THE LORD JESUS WAS ON A MOUNTAIN

eight times.* Seven times were before the cross, but the eighth time after He rose from the dead.

* Omitting of course the scene in the Temptation.

EPHESIANS 4:4-6

Seven unities, but the seventh is two-fold—"God and Father"—making eight in all.

 

COLOSSIANS 3:12, 13

There are seven graces, but (v 14) over all these there is "love," which is the bond of perfectness, the upper garment which completes and unites the others.

 

JAMES 3:17

"The wisdom that is from above" is enumerated in seven particulars, but the fifth is double, making eight in all ("full of mercy and good fruits").

 

ABRAHAM'S SONS

were eight in number; but seven were "born after the flesh," while one, the eighth, was "by promise."

 

THE CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS

was on the eighth day, after abiding "at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation day and night seven days" (Lev 8:35, 9:1).

 

IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE

there were eight classes of furniture, while in the Tabernacle there were seven:—

Temple Tabernacle
1 Ark 1 Ark
1 Mercy-seat 1 Mercy-seat
1 Altar of Incense 1 Altar of Incense
10 Candlesticks 1 Candlestick
10 Tables of shewbread 1 Table of shewbread
1 Altar of burnt-offering 1 Altar of burnt-offering
10 Lavers 1 Laver
1 Brasen Sea  
35 (5x7) 7

 

THE SABBATH TO BE KEPT HOLY

There were eight commands in all. Seven by Jehovah (Exo 20:8; Deut 5:12, repetition; 23:12, 31:13, 34:21; Lev 19:3,30, 23:3: one by Moses, Exo 35:2).

 

DAVID WAS THE EIGHTH SON OF JESSE

according to 1 Samuel 16:6, etc., and 1 Samuel 17:12; but owing doubtless to the death of one son without issue, and hence excluded from the genealogies, David would be called in 1 Chronicles 2:15 "the seventh."

These will suffice to show the connection between the numbers seven and eight. Let us now consider the number

 

EIGHT BY ITSELF

It is 7 plus 1. Hence it is the number specially associated with Resurrection and Regeneration, and the beginning of a new era or order.

When the whole earth was covered with the flood, it was Noah "the eighth person" (2 Peter 2:5) who stepped out on to a new earth to commence a new order of things. "Eight souls" (1 Peter 3:20) passed through it with him to the new or regenerated world.

Hence, too, circumcision was to be performed on the eighth day (Gen 17:12), because it was the foreshadowing of the true circumcision of the heart, that which was to be "made without hands," even "the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11). This is connected with the new creation.

The first-born was to be given to Jehovah on the eighth day (Exo 22:29,30). But

 

RESURRECTION

is the great truth which is signified. Christ rose from the dead on "the first day of the week," that was of necessity the eighth day. And it is remarkable that the Bible contains the record of

Eight individual Resurrections

(other than the Lord and the saints):

3 in the Old Testament
3 in the Gospels
2 in Acts 9 and 20

The three in the Old Testament correspond to the three raised by our Lord.
  1. The son of a widow—
    Zarepta (1 Kings 17:17-25) and
    Nain (Luke 7:11-18).

  2. The child of a rich person—
    Son of the woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4:32-37),
    The daughter of Jarius (Mark 5:35; Luke 8:49).

  3. A full grown man...after burial—
    In Elisha's tomb (2 Kings 13:20,21),
    Lazarus (John 11).

 

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

lasted eight days, with a special reference to the Incarnation (John 1:14).

 

THE TRANSFIGURATION

also took place on the eighth day (inclusive reckoning) after the first announcement of Christ's "sufferings," and it was the showing forth of the "glory" which should follow at His coming again.

 

THE FIRST CUBE

Eight is the first cubic number, the cube of two, 2 x 2 x 2. We have seen that three is the symbol of the first plane figure, and that four is the first square. So here, in the first cube, we see something of transcendent perfection indicated, something, the length and breadth and height of which are equal. This significance of the cube is seen in the fact that the "Holy of Holies," both in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, were cubes. In the Tabernacle it was a cube of 10 cubits. In the Temple it was a cube of 20 cubits. In Revelation 20 the New Jerusalem is to be a cube of 12,000 furlongs. Dr. Milo Mahan is inclined to believe that the Ark of Noah, too, had a kind of sacred Shechinah in "the window finished in a cubit above"—a cube of one. If so, we have the series of cubes:—

1 = The Ark
103 = 1,000, The Tabernacle
203 = 8,000, The Temple
12,0003 = 1,728,*000,000,000, the New Jerusalem

* This 1728, too, is a remarkable number, viz., 82 x 33.

 

EIGHT SONGS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

outside the Psalms:

  1. Redemption, Exodus 15.
  2. Supply and maintenance, Numbers 21:17.
  3. Moses witnessing to the grace of God and the unfaithfulness of man, Deuteronomy 32.
  4. Victory over oppression, Judges 5.
  5. David, God's elect, delivered from all his foes, 2 Samuel 22.
  6. The Song of Songs.
  7. The song of the well-beloved touching Israel, God's vineyard, Isaiah 5.
  8. This (the eighth) waits to be sung on resurrection ground (Isa 26), for it does not come till after "death is swallowed up in victory," 25:8.

 

THE MIRACLES OF ELIJAH

were eight in number, marking the Divine character of his mission:

  1. The shutting up of heaven, 1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17; Luke 4:25.
  2. Multiplying the widow's meal, 2 Kings 17:14-16.
  3. Raising the widow's son, verses 17-23.
  4. Causing fire to come down from heaven, 1 Kings 18:37, 38.
  5. Causing rain to come down from heaven, verses 41-45.
  6. Causing fire to come down from heaven, 2 Kings 1:10.
  7. The same, verse 12.
  8. Dividing the Jordan, 2 Kings 2:8.

 

THE MIRACLES OF ELISHA

were double in number, viz. sixteen, for his request was, "Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me," 2 Kings 2:9:

  1. Dividing the Jordan, 2 Kings 2:14.
  2. Healing the waters, verse 21.
  3. Cursing the young men,* verse 24.
  4. Procuring water for the three kings, 2 Kings 3:16-20.
  5. Multiplying the widow's oil, 2 Kings 4:1-7.
  6. Raising the widow's son, 4:37.
  7. Healing the deadly pottage, verse 38.
  8. Feeding the hundred men, verses 42-44.
  9. The healing of Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-19.
  10. The smiting of Gehazi, verses 20-27.
  11. Causing the iron to swim, 2 Kings 6:1-7.
  12. Opening the eyes of his servant, verse 17.
  13. Smiting the Syrian army with blindness, verse 18.
  14. Restoring their sight, verse 20.
  15. Arresting the king's messenger, verses 30-33.
  16. A dead man raised by touching his bones, 2 Kings 13:20, 21.
* The word is used of Isaac, aged 28; Joseph when 39; Rehoboam when 40; Shadrach and his companions in Babylon.
The use and significance of the number eight in Scripture is seen to recur in marvelous exactitude. It may indeed be said that

 

EIGHT IS THE DOMINICAL NUMBER,

for everywhere it has to do with the LORD. It is the number of His name, IHSOUS, Jesus:—

I = 10
H = 8
S = 200
O = 70
U = 400
S = 200
  888

It is the number stamped upon the Old Testament, the numbers of its books in all the MSS being 24 (3x8). See p. 25.

In the book which relates to His great Apocalypse or Revelation, there are in the introduction which sets forth the glory of the Lord, to be revealed in the day of the Lord, eight references to the Old Testament on which the claims of His Lordship are based.

 

THE EIGHT REFERENCES TO THE OLD TESTAMENT IN REVELATION 1

It will be noted, moreover, that these are not given at haphazard. Our attention is called to their importance by the order in which they are given. They are arranged in the form of an epanodos, the first being from the same book as the eighth, the second corresponding in the same way to the seventh, the third to the sixth, and the fourth to the fifth. Thus the Divine seal of superabundant perfection is there set on the Scriptures which declare the Lordship of Jesus:

A. 5. Isaiah 55:4.

B. 7-. Daniel 7:13.

C. -7. Zechariah 12:10.

D. 8. Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12.

D. 11. Isaiah 41:4, 44:6; 48:12.

C. 12. Zechariah 4:2.
B. 13-15. Daniel 7:9, 13, 22, 10:5, 6.
A. -16-. Isaiah 49:2.
 

OTHER DOMINICAL NAMES OF JESUS

are also marked by gematria and stamped with the number eight as a factor:

We ought also to note that the other factors, beside the prevailing eight, are full of significance.

All this speaks to us, if we have "ears to hear," that "God hath glorified His Son Jesus" (Acts 3:13), and "hath made that same Jesus...both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

But here we must consider the two numbers

 

EIGHT AND THIRTEEN TOGETHER

that we may afterwards compare and contrast the two. For this purpose we must consider the number thirteen here, and out of its otherwise proper order.

As to the significance of thirteen, all are aware that it has come down to us as a number of ill-omen. Many superstitions cluster around it, and various explanations are current concerning them.

Unfortunately, those who go backwards to find a reason seldom go back far enough. The popular explanations do not, so far as we are aware, go further back than the Apostles. But we must go back to the first occurrence of the number thirteen in order to discover the key to its significance. It occurs first in Gen 14:4, where we read "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and the thirteenth year they REBELLED."

Hence every occurrence of the number thirteen, and likewise of every multiple of it, stamps that with which it stands in connection with rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption, disintegration, revolution, or some kindred idea.

The second mention of thirteen is in connection with Ishmael, Gen 17:25. He was thirteen years old when Abraham circumcised him and admitted him into the covenant to which he was a stranger in heart, and which ended in his rebellion and rejection.

We see it stamped upon the very fore-front of Revelation. For while the opening statement of Gen 1:1 is composed of seven words and twenty-eight letters (4x7), the second verse consists of fourteen words, but fifty-two letters; fifty-two being 4x13 tells of some apostasy or rebellion which caused the ruin of which that verse speaks.

But it is when we come to

 

GEMATRIA

that the most wonderful results are seen. These results may be stated thus, briefly: That the names of the LORD's people are multiples of eight, while the names of those who apostatized, or rebelled, or who were in any sense His enemies, are multiples of thirteen. This statement, if it be proved, is one of the greatest evidences of verbal inspiration which the world has yet seen. The discovery of the great principle is due, we believe, to the late Dr. Milo Mahan, of New York, who has given many examples of it in his work already referred to, now long out of print. The effect of this law can hardly be estimated in establishing the presence of an ever-present working of the Holy Spirit in inditing the very words and even the letters of Scripture. No human foresight or arrangement could have secured such a result beforehand; no human powers could have carried it out in such perfection. No matter where we look, we find the working of the law without cessation, without a break, without a flaw from beginning to end. Only one conclusion is possible, and that is that the Bible has but one Author, an eternal, omniscient Author, designing, superintending, working, and carrying out His own infinite plans.

Let us take a survey of this wondrous field

 

THE SETH AND CAIN LINES

The numerical value of the Seth line of names collectively is a multiple of 8; whilst those of the Cain line collectively is a multiple of 13.

The Seth Line of Names

Adam 45
Seth 700
Enos 357
Cainan 210
Mahalaleel 136
Jared 214
Enoch 84
Methuselah 784
Lamech 90
Noah 58
Japheth* 490
(8x396) 3168

* Japheth was the eldest son of Noah, though Shem was chosen for the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Taking the Noah group separately, we have:

Noah 58
Shem 340
Ham 48
Japheth 490
(8x9x13) 936

Without Ham, the three names, Noah, Shem, and Japheth, equal 888. With Ham they equal 936, as above; but this, though it is a multiple of 8, is at the same time a multiple of 13, and of 9 also, the number of judgment.

The gematria of the whole Scripture, Gen 5:6-24, which contains the record of these names, amounts to 62960 (or 8x7870).

The Cain Line of Names

Adam 45
Cain 160
Enoch 84
Irad 284
Mehujael 95
Methusael 777
Lamech 90
Jabal 42
Jubal 48
Tubal Cain 598
(13x9x19) 2223

The family of Lamech is also significant if looked at separately:

The history of the Cain family is given in Gen 4:1-25, and spreads over 130 years (13x10). See Gen 5:3.

Further, the whole Scripture which records the history, Gen 4:1-25, yields by gematria 76882 (13x5914). There is, however, a remarkable exception which "proves the rule." Verse 25 records the birth of Seth, and its value is 6560 (8x820); verse 26, also, which records the birth of his son Enos, and tells how men began then to "call upon the name of the LORD," yields 3064 (8x383).

Contrast this with verse 1, where the numerical value of the words "and she conceived and bare Cain" is 1612 (13x124).

The years of Adam during the days of Cain, before the birth of Seth, were 130 (13x10): see Gen 5:3. While after the birth of Seth he lived 800 years (8x100), Gen 5:4.

 

THE GEMATRIA OF LAMECH'S SONG

in Gen 4:23,24, is 4667 (13x359); while the sentence pronounced on Cain in vv 10-13 is 10283 (13x791).

 

GENESIS VI

The record in Gen 6, which gives the apostasy of man, leading up to the judgment of the Flood, is stamped and branded throughout with significant numbers:

But now contrast vv 8-10 concerning Noah--"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD," etc., 7008 (8x876):

 

GENESIS 10:15-18

The Canaanite names:

Canaan 190
And 6
Sidon 154
Heth 408
The Jebusite 93
The Amorite 256
The Girgashite 521
The Hivite 29
The Arkite 385
The Sinite 135
The Arvadite 226
The Zemarite 345
The Hamathite 463
(132x19) 3211

THE DESCENDANTS OF JOKTAN (Gen 10:25-29)

Joktan (the 13th from Shem)(132) 169
Peleg (his brother) 113
Salah (his grandfather) (132x2) 338
His 13 sons:
Almodad 85
Sheleph 410
Hazarmaveth 744
Jerah 218
Hadoram 255
Uzal 44
Diklah 139
Obal 108
Abimael 84
Sheba 303
Ophir 287
Havilah 59
Jobab 20
(13x212) 2756

The whole passage (Gen 10:25-29) yields the number 10647 (132x63). Such are the pains taken to emphasise the rise of the progenitors of the Saracens, for Joktan settled in S. Arabia, while Ishmael settled in Arabia Petrea.

 

THE LINE OF ARPHAXAD (Gen 11:10-27)

Shem 340
Arphaxad 605
Salah 338
Eber 272
Peleg 113
Reu 276
Serug 509
Nahor 264
Terah 608
Abram 243
(8x446) 3568

 

NAHOR'S FAMILY

Nahor 264
Haran 255
Lot 45
Sarai 510
Milcah 95
Iscah 95
(8x158) 1264

Thus the entire generation is 4832 (8x604).

 

THE GENERATIONS OF ABRAHAM

Abraham had eight sons. Seven of them were born "after the flesh," while the eighth was "by promise."

(8x31) Abraham 248
(8x2x13) Isaac* 208
(8x57) 456

* Isaac's household was a divided one, as well as Jacob's; hence we have the 13 as a factor as well as 8.

 

JACOB'S FAMILY

(7x2x13) Jacob 182
Leah 36
Rachel 238
(8x57) 456

Leah's Six Sons

Reuben 259
Simeon 466
Levi 46
Judah 30
Issachar 830
Zebulon 95
(13x2+1700) 1726

Add parents' names (Jacob 182, and Leah 36), and we have 1944 (8x243).

Rachel's Two Sons (Spelling taken as in Gen 35:22-26)

Joseph 156
Benjamin 152
(77x4) 308

Rachel's Maid

Bilhah 42
Dan 54
Naphtali 570
666

Leah's Maid

Zilpah 122
Gad 7
Asher 501
Add Leah 36
666

The whole family of Jacob, including Ephraim (331) and Manasseh (395) = 4512 (83x4000).

 

THE TWELVE TRIBES

are enumerated in some 18 (3x6) different ways, in which one is always omitted. For there were 12 tribes; but there were also 13, telling of God's design for perfect government, and of man's apostasy from that government.

To go back, however, to Genesis, we now take

 

ISHMAEL'S TWELVE SONS (Gen 25:12-17)

Now these 40
The generations of 836
Ishmael 451
Nebaioth 462
Kedar 304
Abdeel 38
Mibsam 382
Mishmah 450
Dumah 55
Massa 341
Hadar 212
Tema 451
Jetur 225
Naphish 440
Kedemah 149
(13x12x31) 4836

 

THE ELEVEN DUKES OF EDOM

Gen 36:40-43 is by gematria 9880: thus--

The word Pwl) (al-luph), "duke," amounts to 117 (13x9).

And eleven times repeated, it is still a multiple of 13, viz., 1287 (13x99).

 

THE ABRAHAM-KETURAH GROUP (Gen 25:1,2)

(8x31) Abraham 248
(8x40) Keturah 320
Zimran 297
Jokshan 460
Medan 94
Midian 104
Ishbak 412
Shuah 314
(13x173) 2249

 

THEIR DESCENDANTS IN GEN 25:3

Shebah 303
Dedan 58
Sons of Dedan 120
(13x37) 481

Asshurim 547
Letushim 385
Leummim 121
(13x81) 1053

 

THE SONS OF MIDIAN (Gen 25:4)

Sons of Midian 166
Ephah 165
Epher 350
Hanoch 58
Abidah 87
Eldaah 110
(13x72) 936

The phrase which concludes the lists, "All these are the sons of Keturah," has for its value 468 (13x36), making with the numbers above 5213 for the whole group, or 13x401.

The whole passage is also a multiple of 13.

 

THE INCESTUOUS CHILDREN OF LOT (Gen 19)

Ammon 166
Ammi 120
(13x22) 286

Ben-Ammi (children of Ammi) 182 (13x14)

The whole passage (Gen 19:31-38) is a multiple of 13

 

GENESIS 19
* Even the expression in 2 Peter 2:7, "and righteous Lot," is 1326 (13x102).
It will be observed how we have here not only the number thirteen, but also the number nine, which...is the number of judgment.

 

THE DESTRUCTION OF JERICHO

is also stamped with the number thirteen, though not by gematria, for the city was compassed once each day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, making 13 times in all (6+7). Jericho, wxry, is 234 which is 13x2x9 (nine being the number of judgment).

 

THE TWELVE JUDGES

who were raised up as saviours in a time of apostasy and rebellion exhibit both these factors, 8 and 13

Othniel 561
Ehud 16
Shamgar 543
Barak 302
Gideon 133
Tola 506
Jair 221
Jephthah 498
Ibzan 143
Elon 97
Abdon 132
Samson 696
(8x13x37) 3848

Abimelech the usurper (Judges 9) by his name

(13x4) Ben 52
(13x24) Jerubbaal 312
(13x28) 364

The Judges period ends under Samuel, 377 (13x29), and the last three names which come before us are--

Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, which together amount to 462 (42x11).

 

THE SAUL GROUP OF NAMES (1 Sam 14:49-51)

Saul 337
Kish 760
Sons of Saul 399
Jonathan 516
Ishui 326
Melchishua 476
Ahinoam 179
Merab 242
Michal 100
Abner son of Ner 565
(13x300) 3900

 

THE JUDAH AND ISRAEL LINES OF KINGS

are stamped in a remarkable manner with these numbers.

There are two periods specially marked with regard to Israel.

The number 65 is associated with the separate existence of the Ten Tribes in Isa 7:8, "Within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people." From that time, that is to say, from the last year of Jeroboam II to the carrying away of Israel was exactly 65 years, or 5 times 13, which characterised the disintegration which was going on in the nation.

But, more than this, the number 390 was also stamped upon Israel as being the whole duration of the separate existence of the Ten Tribes from the day they rebelled against Rehoboam to the day they were led away captive. This we see from Eze 4:4, 5, where the command was given to Ezekiel, "Lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it; according to the number of the days that thou shalt be upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel."

Now 390 is thirteen times thirty,* and the duration of Israel's rebellion is sufficiently and appropriately branded upon it.

* Commentators entirely miss the point when they say that 390 = 10x39, instead of 13x30!

On the other hand, when we turn to Judah we see the number 8 pervading it. For the same prophet, in the next verse, is commanded to lie on his right side forty days to bear the iniquity of the house of Judah--each day for a year. We ought to note in passing that the name of Ezekiel, who foretells the duration and end of this apostasy, is 156 (13x12); while the words of the prophecy, Eze 4:1-6, amount to 36673 (132x7x31), and the whole passage, 4:1-8, to 43069 (13x3313).

The fulfillment ought also to be noted. The 390 years were to signify not only the years of apostasy, but were also to signify the 390 days of the siege of Jerusalem; viz., 13 months (30x13). The siege commenced on the 10th day of the 10th month of the 9th year of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:1-4), and it was taken on the 9th day of the 4th month of the 11th year of the same king. This gives a period of 18 months. But the siege was raised for about 5 months (see Jer 37), while Nebuchadnezzar's army was withdrawn for fear of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who had come up to meet him.

Thus we have the two numbers stamped by the history; upon Judah 8, and upon Israel 13.

Now look at

 

THE LIST OF JUDAH'S KINGS[1]

Rehoboam 320
Abijam 53
[2]Asa 62
Jehoshaphat 410
Jehoram 261
Ahaziah 37
Athaliah 515
Jehoash 322
[3]Amaziah 152
[4]Azariah (Uzziah) 292
Jotham 456
Ahaz 16
Hezekiah 136
Manasseh 395
Amon 97
Josiah 332
Jehoahaz 37
Jehoiakim 181
Jehoiachin 111
Zedekiah 215
(8x550) 4400

1. The spelling, which sometimes varies, is taken according to the first occurrence of the name.

2. In the 39th (3x13) year of his reign he forsook the LORD (2 Chron 16:12).

3. Amaziah = 146 or 152 according to the spelling. If 146, then the total will be 4394 (132x2). But if we add Saul 337, David 14, and Solomon 375, it is 5120 (83x10).

4. He had reigned 52 (4x13) years when he apostatized (2 Chron 26:3,21).

 

THE ISRAELITE KINGS

Jeroboam I 322
Nadab 56
Baasha 373
Elah 36
Zimri 257
Omri 320
Ahab 12
Ahaziah 37
Jehoram 261
Jehu 22
Jehoahaz 37
Joash 317
Jeroboam II 322
Zachariah 242
Shallum 376
Menahem 138
Pekahiah 203
Pekah 188
Hoshea 381
(13x300) 3900

 

THE LEADERS WHO RETURNED FROM BABYLON (Ezra 2:2)

Zurubbabel 241
Jeshua 386
Nehemiah 113
Seraiah 515
Reelaiah 315
Mordecai 274
Bilshan 382
*Mizpar 380
Bigvai 21
Rehum 254
Baanah 127
(82x47) 3008

* In the Hebrew Text rpsm, Mizpar is repeated again after Baanah. If we count this in, then the total, instead of 3008, will be 3388, which though not a multiple of 8 is very significant.

Other chiefs mentioned in other connections are--

Shesbazzar, the prince of Judah 892
Ezra the scribe 619
Nehemiah 113
(8x203) 1624

It is difficult to observe a strict order in the presentation of these phenomena, because the results are best shown by direct contrast. For example, if we take out the names of the adversaries who came in direct opposition to the Lord, the law will be more clearly seen.

 

THE ADVERSARIES OF EZRA (4:7-9)

Bishlam 372
Mithredath 1044
Tabeel 42
"And the rest of their companions" 989
Rehum the chancellor 475
Shimshai the scribe 991
(13x301) 3913

These Companions (Ezra 4:9) are the--

Dinaites 75
Apharsathchites 772
Tarpelites 330
Apharsites 352
Archevites 237
Babylonians 45
Susanchites 687
Dehavites 16
Elamites 151
(13x205) 2665

Together they all make 6578 (13x506).

The men who took strange wives (Ezra 10:17-44) were in number 113. The gematria of their names is 38194 (132x226).

 

THE ADVERSARIES OF NEHEMIAH

as mentioned and named in 2:19, 4:7, and 13:4:

Sanballat the Horonite 424
And Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite 294
And Geshem the Arabian 636
And the Arabians 333
And the Ammonites 221
And the Ashdodites 376
Eliashib the priest 433
(13x209) 2717

With this we may note the 6-fold nature of their opposition as shown on p. 153.

 

DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS

Daniel 95
Hananiah 120
Misael 381
Azariah 292
888

But their Chaldean names, given by Nebuchadnezzar, make a number of no significance whatever.

 

THE ENEMIES OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

as named in Scripture are generally multiples of thirteen.

Let us begin with the great enemy himself, always remembering that though we may give the English for the sake of clearness, the gematria always refers to the original Hebrew or Greek:

Genesis 3

where the Devil is first mentioned and revealed. The opening words:

Isaiah 27:1

Isaiah 14:29

Psalm 75:15

Revelation 9:11

Ephesians 2:2
* Ninety-one hundred being 13x700; and 78 being 13x6.
Luke 10:18

Ephesians 6:12

Matthew 16:23

 

THE HUMAN ADVERSARIES

present the same peculiar phenomena:

* Nimrod exhibits a number connected with Antichrist, being 294, or 7x42.

** The whole of Psalm 52 = 19572 (42x466).

 

THE BOOK OF ESTHER

reveals the same law in operation. Having diligently cast the horoscope (as Pur, rw@p means: see Isa 47:13), Haman found the most favourable time for carrying out his designs as "the Jews' enemy."*

* A term applied to none but Haman. See Esth 3:10, 7:6, 8:1, 9:10,14.

Esther 3:7 tells us that for 12 months the horoscope was consulted "in the first of the month...from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month." Then (v 12) on the thirteenth day of the first month (i.e., the thirteenth month from the time they commenced) the favourable day was found. Then (3:13) the letters were prepared, and upon "one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month" (at the end of the second year), the Jews were all to be put to death. On that day came the deliverance (8:12, etc.). Thus we have three thirteens connected with this gigantic effort of the great enemy to destroy the Lord's people, and with them, of course, the promised seed. This is the ultimate object of the great enemy in all his designs against God's people.

On the other hand, we see the multiples of the dominical eight in the Lord's people:

Mordecai 274
Son of Jair 273
Son of Shimei 472
son of Kish 462
Benjamite 431
(8x239) 1912
   
Eth-Hadassah 475
That is Esther 677
(8122) 1152
   
(8x42) Purim 336

On the other hand we have:

Haman's sons present a curious phenomenon. In every Hebrew manuscript these names are presented thus (9:7-9):

and (v'eth) Parshandatha
and (v'eth) Dalphon
and (v'eth) Aspatha
and (v'eth) Poratha
and (v'eth) Adalia
and (v'eth) Aridatha
and (v'eth) Parmashta
and (v'eth) Arisai
and (v'eth) Aridai
and (v'eth) Vajezatha

This peculiarity has been preserved not only in all the manuscripts, but in every printed edition of the Hebrew Text. No scribe or editor has ventured to change this form of their presentation.

Various conjectures have been made both by the ancient Jewish and modern commentators as to the reason why these names are always presented thus; but no one seems to have looked upon the names as an addition sum (regarding of course each letter as a figure). Treated thus the sum of the names amounts to 10244 or 13x788.

The whole family is 10868 or 13x836.

 

THE ADVERSARIES OF CHRIST

The Scriptures concerning Barabbas

The Scriptures concerning Judas Iscariot

So with Acts 1:16; Mark 14:44,45, and all the corresponding passages.

Acts 4:25-27

 

OTHER ADVERSARIES

The Adversaries named by St. Paul

The Whole Group

John in his Epistles and the Apocalypse

The Apocalypse

Ezekiel's Prophecy of Gog

Jude

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Thus, no matter in what way we look at the recurrence of these two numbers, we see the same law pervading the history. A few miscellaneous examples must suffice:--

The Number of those who died in Korah's Rebellion

was 250 + 14700 = 14950 (13x1150). See Num 16:35,49.

The Valley of Hinnom

(or of the son or children of Hinnom) occurs 13 times. It was the scene of the idolatrous and inhuman rites of Moloch introduced by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7). The casting of children into the fire in that valley made it the fit symbol of the future punishment of sinners, who are to be cast into the lake of fire, and gave rise to the word Gehenna, from the Hebrew Mn$@hi )ygi Gee-Hinnom, Valley of Hinnom. The 13 occurrences, which contain the whole history of the valley, are worthy of connected study (Josh 15:8,18, 18:16, twice; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chron 28:3, 33:6; Neh 11:30; Jer 7:31,32, 19:2,6, 32:35).

Thus the two numbers 8 and 13 are like two threads--gold and crimson--which run through the whole of Divine Revelation, continually crossing and recrossing each other.

There is, however, one very important branch of this part of our subject still remaining, and that is:--

 

THE CONNECTION OF THE NUMBER THIRTEEN WITH SUBSTITUTION AND ATONEMENT

The Saviour, though without sin, was "made sin," or a sin-offering, for His people. He was "wounded for our transgressions," and bruised for their iniquities. He was, in fact, "NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS" (Isa 53:12).

Therefore this number is not only the all-pervading factor of SIN, but also of sin's atonement. It is not only the number which brands the sinner as a rebel against God, but it is the number borne by the sinner's Substitute.

His very names in the Old Testament, before the work of Atonement was entered on or accomplished, are all multiples of 13, just as His names, afterwards in the New Testament and when the work of Atonement was carried out, are all multiples of 8.

The Old Testament names are:--

But note here the marvellous combination of the other factors, 2, 5, and 7, the significance of which we need not dwell upon after all that we have said about them as indicating incarnation, grace, and spiritual perfection.

Truly, it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Hence the numerical value of the very word "anathema", curse, is 546 (13x42), and it occurs 6 times.

Genesis 4:4

which records the first type of this Lamb of God, the sinner's substitute, exhibits the number 13.

Abel suffered; Cain sinned; Seth was the substitute for Abel. Hence the three names are:

Abel 37
Cain 160
Seth 700
(13x69) 897

Their whole history (Gen 4:1-25) amounts to 76882 (13x5914).

Leviticus 16

The great chapter on Atonement is most remarkable. We cannot give the whole chapter; but note--

Numbers 21:8,9

It may be observed that the serpent (Ha-Seraph) is also 585, exactly the same number as the scape-goat.

John 3:14

Isaac

who was the type of Christ in substitution, has, as the factor of his name, 13 as well as 8. It is 208 (13x8x2).

Isaac's history, too, in Gen 22:1-19 (the eighth of the Divine interviews and covenants), amounts to 54808, or (13x8x17x31).

The Sacrifice of Job for his Friends

The Atonement after Korah's Rebellion

Numbers 16, "When Aaron stood between the living and the dead."

Isaiah 53

Isaiah 7:7-16

The Day of Atonement

Daniel 9:25-27

Compare Matt 24:15 in the Greek:

1 Corinthians 15:3

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

John 23:31,32

Romans 6:6-8

1 Corinthians 2:2

Galatians 6:14

Philippians 2

Colossians 2:14,15

Turning once more to the number eight, it is remarkable that:--

 

THE RISEN CHRIST

was seen by 512 persons. And 512 is the cube of 8 (83).

 

THE NUMBER OF THE DISCIPLES

gathered in the upper room (Acts 1:15) was 120 (8x15).

 

1 PETER 3

On the other hand we have:--

 

LUKE 1:35

 

EIGHT IN THE APOCALYPSE

We see not only the number seven stamping the book throughout with spiritual perfection, but as it contains also the history which leads up to resurrection and the new heavens and earth, the number eight is also seen.

 

THE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES

of the word zumh (zumee), "leaven," in the New Testament is thirteen, and it is significant of its connection with corruption, as denoting apostasy from the truth.

It is surely impossible to explain all this evidence on the doctrine of chances. There must be design. And design so perfect, so uniform, so significant can only be Divine. And being Divine is an unanswerable argument in favour of the verbal and even literal inspiration of the Scriptures of Truth.

 

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