Number in Scripture:
Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
by
E. W. Bullinger
(1837-1913)
FORTY
has long been universally recognized as an important number, both on account of the frequency of its occurrence, and the uniformity of its association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement—(not judgment, like the number 9, which stands in connection with the punishment of enemies, but the chastisement of sons, and of a covenant people). It is the product of 5 and 8, and points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification.
There are 15 such periods which appear on the surface of the Scriptures, and which may be thus classified:—
Forty Years of Probation by Trial:
Israel in the wilderness, Deut 8:2-5; Psa 95:10; Acts 13:18 (the third 40 of Moses’ life, 120 years).
Israel from the crucifixion to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Forty Years of Probation by Prosperity in Deliverance and Rest:
under Othniel, Judg 3:11,
under Barak, Judg 5:31,
under Gideon, Judg 8:28.
Forty Years of Probation by Prosperity in Enlarged Dominion:
under David, 2 Sam 5:4,
under Solomon, 1 Kings 11:42,
under Jeroboam II. See 2 Kings 12:17,18, 13:3,5,7,22,25, 14:12-14,23,28,
under Jehoash, 2 Kings 12:1,
under Joash, 2 Chron 24:1.
Forty Years of Probation by Humiliation and Servitude:
Israel under the Philistines, Judg 13:1.
Israel in the time of Eli, 1 Sam 4:18.
Israel under Saul, Acts 13:21.
Forty Years of Probation by Waiting:
Moses in Egypt, Acts 7:23.
Moses in Midian, Acts 7:30
FORTY DAYS
There are eight of such great periods on the surface of the Bible:
Forty days Moses was in the mount to receive the Law, Exo 24:18.
Forty days Moses was in the mount after the sin of the Golden Calf, Deut 9:18,25.
Forty days of the spies, issuing in the penal sentence of the 40 years, Num 13:26, 14:34.
Forty days of Elijah in Horeb, 1 Kings 19:8.
Forty days of Jonah and Nineveh, Jonah 3:4.
Forty days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgression.*
Forty days Jesus was tempted of the Devil, Matt 4:2.
Forty days Jesus was seen of His disciples, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, Acts 1:3.
* Thus 40 becomes a number closely connected with Judah, as 390 (Eze 4:5) is the number of separated Israel. The significance of this will be seen (on p. 215), for 40 is a multiple of 8, and 390 is a multiple of 13. It may also be noted that 65 (5x13) is the number of Ephraim, while 70 is specially connected with Jerusalem.
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Here are reviews from the Thriftbooks website:
” Bullinger shows thru numerical values, gematria, and other mathematical means that “the Bible has but one Author...carrying out His own infinite plans”. He makes the mathematician love the scriptures and the religious love math. One of my favorite parts is when he is explaining Dr. Milo Mahan’s work on the principle of number 8 and number 13, and he gets passionate with the validity of the Bible, as over and over he demonstrates with gematria that every single name of the Lord’s people are multiples of 8 and every one who were His enemies, are multiples of 13. It is one of the only books of its genre that wasn’t exclusively written for Jews.”
Also: “ . . .Some of the tidbits in this book are worth a king’s ransom, such as where 360 degrees came from, why there are 12 zodiac signs, why certain numbers are used in the Bible, etc. “.