[JohnnyM]

obviously you have avoided the question because you can't answer it. Let me word it another way. Why then do you believe 40 days and 40 nights is figurative??

JM

[SoothingDave]

Why then do you believe 40 days and 40 nights is figurative

Because it is idiomatic. As trad_anglican already said "40 days and 40 nights" means "a long time." "A thousand years" means "a really, really long time."

SD