SIX

This number at times represents imperfection. The number of the “wild beast” is six hundred and sixty six, and is called a “man’s number,” indicating that it has to do with imperfect, fallen man, and seems to symbolize the imperfection of that which is represented by the “wild beast.” The number six being raised to the third degree (the six appearing in the position of units, tens and hundreds) therefore emphasizes the imperfection and deficiency of that which the beast represents or pictures.—Rev. 13:18.

SEVEN

Seven is used frequently in the Scriptures to signify completeness. At times it has reference to bringing a work toward completion. Or it can refer to the complete cycle of things as established or allowed by God. By completing his work toward the earth in six creative days and resting on the seventh day, Jehovah set the pattern for the whole sabbath arrangement, from the seven-day week to the Jubilee year that followed the seven-times-seven-year cycle. (Ex. 20:10; Lev. 25:2, 6, 8) The festival of unleavened bread and the festival of booths were each seven days long. (Ex. 34:18; Lev. 23:34) Seven appears often in connection with the Levitical rules for offerings (Lev. 4:6; 16:14, 19; Num. 28:11) and for cleansings.—Lev. 14:7, 8, 16, 27, 51; 2 Ki. 5:10.

The “seven congregations” of Revelation, with their characteristics, give a complete picture of all the congregations of God on earth.—Rev. 1:20–3:22.

The “seven heads” of the “wild beast” (Rev. 13:1) show the limit to which the beast would be allowed to develop, no more, no less. True, ‘the “scarlet-colored wild beast” is called an “eighth” king; nonetheless, it springs from the seven and does not exist apart from the seven-headed wild beast (Rev. 17:3, 9-11), as is true also of the “image” of the “wild beast.” (Rev. 13:14) Similarly, the two-horned “wild beast” is actually coexistent with the original “wild beast” whose “mark” it tries to put on all persons.—Rev. 13:11, 16, 17.

Jehovah was long-suffering with Israel, but warned them that if, despite his discipline, they ignored him, he would then chastise them “seven times,” thoroughly, for their sins.—Lev. 26:18, 21, 28.

In historical sections of the Scriptures seven frequently occurs to denote completeness, or doing a work completely. The Israelites exercised full faith and obedience by marching for seven days around Jericho, encompassing it seven times on the seventh day, after which the city wall collapsed. (Josh. 6:2-4, 15) Elijah showed full faith in the efficacy of his prayer to God by commanding his servant up on Mount Carmel to go looking at the sky seven times before a rain cloud appeared. (1 Ki. 18:42-44) Naaman the leper had to bathe seven times in the Jordan River. He, as a mighty Syrian general, had to display considerable humility to carry out this procedure recommended by the prophet Elisha, but for his obediently doing it Jehovah cleansed him. (2 Ki. 5:10, 12) The purity, completeness, perfection and fineness of Jehovah’s sayings are likened with poetic force and intensity to silver refined in a smelting furnace, clarified seven times. (Ps. 12:6) Jehovah’s mercy is magnified by the statement: “The righteous one may fall even seven times, and he will certainly get up.” (Prov. 24:16) His deserving all praise is declared by the psalmist: “Seven times in the day I have praised you.”—Ps. 119:164.

The book of Revelation abounds with symbolic use of the number seven in connection with the things of God and his congregation, and also the things of God’s adversary Satan the Devil in his all-out fight to oppose God and his people.—Rev. 1:4, 12, 16; 5:1, 6; 8:2; 10:3; 12:3; 13:1; 15:1, 7; 17:3, 10; and other texts.

Multiples of seven are used in a similar sense of completeness. Seventy (ten times seven) is employed prophetically in the “seventy weeks” of Daniel’s prophecy, dealing with Messiah’s coming. (Dan. 9:24-27; See SEVENTY WEEKS.) Jerusalem and Judah lay desolate seventy years, because of disobedience to God, “until the land had paid off [completely] its sabbaths.”—2 Chron. 36:21; Jer. 25:11; 29:10; Dan. 9:2; Zech. 1:12; 7:5.

Seventy-seven, a repetition of seven in a number, was equivalent to saying “indefinitely” or “without limit,” as Jesus counsels Christians to forgive their brothers. (Matt. 18:21, 22) Since God had ruled that anyone killing Cain, the murderer, must “suffer vengeance seven times,” Lamech, who apparently killed a man in self-defense, said: “If seven times Cain is to be avenged, then Lamech seventy times and seven.”—Gen. 4:15, 23, 24.

EIGHT

The number eight was also used to add emphasis to the completeness of something (one more than seven, the number generally used for completeness), thus sometimes representing abundance. Jehovah reassured his people of deliverance from the threat of Assyria, saying that there should be raised up against the Assyrian “seven shepherds, yes, [not merely seven, but] eight dukes of mankind.” (Mic. 5:5) As a fitting climax to the final festival of the sacred year, the festival of booths, the eighth day was to be one of holy convention, solemn assembly, a day of complete rest.—Lev. 23:36, 39; Num. 29:35.

TEN

Ten is a number denoting fullness, entirety, the aggregate, the sum of all that exists of something. It may be noted also that, where the numbers seven and ten are used together, the seven represents that which is higher or superior and ten represents something of a subordinate nature.

The ten plagues poured upon Egypt fully expressed God’s judgments upon Egypt and were all that were needed to humiliate fully the false gods of Egypt and to break the hold of Egypt upon God’s people Israel. The “Ten Words” formed the basic laws of the Law covenant, the approximately 600 other laws merely enlarging on these, elucidating them and explaining their application. (Ex. 20:3-17; 34:28) Jesus used the number ten in several of his illustrations to denote entirety or full number of something.—Matt. 25:1; Luke 15:8; 19:13, 16, 17.

One of the beasts of Daniel’s vision and certain beasts described in Revelation had ten horns. These evidently represented all the powers or “kings” of earth making up the beastly arrangement. (Dan. 7:7, 20, 24; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12) The fullness of the test or period of test that God determines for his servants or allows them to undergo is expressed at Revelation 2:10: “Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison that you may be fully put to the test, and that you may have tribulation ten days,”—Rev. 2:10.

TWELVE

The patriarch Jacob had twelve sons, who became the foundations of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their offspring were organized by God under the Law covenant as God’s nation. Twelve therefore seems to represent a complete, balanced, divinely constituted arrangement. (Gen. 35:22; 49:28) Jehovah chose twelve apostles, who form the secondary foundations of the New Jerusalem, built upon Jesus Christ. (Matt. 10:2-4; Rev. 21:14) There are twelve tribes of “the sons of [spiritual] Israel,” each tribe consisting of 12,000 members.—Rev. 7:4-8.

Multiples of twelve are also sometimes significant. David established twenty-four divisions of the priesthood to serve by turn in the temple later built by Solomon. (1 Chron. 24:1-18) This may assist in identifying the “twenty-four older persons” seated round about God’s throne in white outer garments, and who were wearing crowns. (Rev. 4:4) The footstep followers of Jesus Christ, his spiritual brothers, are promised kingship and priesthood with him in the heavens. These older persons could not be only the apostles, who numbered just twelve. They may therefore represent the entire body of the “royal priesthood,” the 144,000 (as represented in the twenty-four priestly divisions serving at the temple) in their positions in the heavens, as crowned kings and priests.—1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 7:4-8; 20:6.

FORTY

Periods of judgment or punishment seem to be associated with the number forty, in a few instances. (Gen. 7:4; Ezek. 29:11, 12) Nineveh was given forty days to repent. (Jonah 3:4) Another use of the number forty points out a parallel in the life of Jesus Christ with that of Moses, who typified Christ. Both of these men experienced forty-day periods of fasting.—Ex. 24:18; 34:28; Deut. 9:9, 11; Matt. 4:1, 2.

NUMBERS, BOOK OF

The fourth book of the Pentateuch, which derives its English name from the two numberings of the sons of Israel mentioned therein. It relates events that took place in the region of Mount Sinai, in the wilderness during the course of Israel’s wandering, and on the plains of Moab. The narrative primarily covers a period of thirty-eight years and nine months, from 1512 to 1473 B.C.E. (Num. 1:1; Deut. 1:3, 4) Although occurring earlier, the happenings narrated at Numbers 7:1-88 and 9:1-15 provide background information that forms an essential part of the book.

WRITERSHIP

The writership of the book of Numbers has from ancient times been attributed to Moses. Ample evidence in the book itself confirms this. There is no hint of any other life than that experienced by Israel in Egypt and then in the wilderness. In commenting about the time Hebron was built, the writer used the Egyptian city of Zoan as a reference point. (Num. 13:22) The age of Zoan would reasonably be common knowledge to a man like Moses, who “was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.”—Acts 7:22.

Certain commands recorded in the book of Numbers are unique to the circumstances of a nation on the move. These include the prescribed tribal encampments (Num. 1:52, 53), the order of march (Num. 2:9, 16, 17, 24, 31) and the trumpet signals for convening the assembly and for breaking camp. (Num. 10:2-6) Also, the law concerning quarantine is worded to fit camp life. (Num. 5:2-4) Various other commands are stated in such a way as to call for a future application when the Israelites would be residing in the Promised Land. Among these are: the use of trumpets for sounding war calls (Num. 10:9), the setting aside of forty-eight cities for the Levites (Num. 35:2-8), the action to be taken against idolatry and the inhabitants of Canaan (Num. 33:50-56), the selection of six cities of refuge, instructions for handling cases of persons claiming to be accidental manslayers (Num. 35:9-33), and laws involving inheritance and marriage of heiresses.—Num. 27:8-11; 36:5-9.

Additionally, the recording of the Israelite encampments is definitely ascribed to Moses (Num. 33:2) and the concluding words of the book of Numbers also point to him as the writer of the account.—Num 36:13.

AUTHENTICITY

The authenticity of the book is established beyond any doubt. Outstanding is its candor. Wrong conduct and defeat are not concealed. (Num. 11:1-5, 10, 32-35; 14:2, 11, 45) Even the transgressions of Moses himself, his brother Aaron, his sister Miriam and his nephews Nadab and Abihu are exposed. (Num. 3:3, 4; 12:1-15; 20:2-13) Repeatedly happenings recorded in the book are recounted in the Psalms (78:14-41; 95:7-11; 105:40, 41; 106:13-33; 135:10, 11; 136:16-20). By their allusions to major events and other details in Numbers, Joshua (4:12; 14:2), Jeremiah (2 Ki. 18:4), Nehemiah (9:19-22), David (Ps. 95:7-11), Isaiah (48:21), Ezekiel (20:13-24), Hosea (9:10), Amos (5:25), Micah (6:5), the Christian martyr Stephen (Acts 7:36), the apostles Paul (1 Cor. 10:1-11) and Peter (2 Pet. 2:15, 16), the disciple Jude (vs. 11) and the Son of God (John 3:14; Rev. 2:14) showed that they accepted this record as part of God’s inspired Word. There is also Balaam’s prophecy regarding the star that would step forth out of Jacob, which had its initial fulfillment when David became king and thereafter subdued the Moabites and Edomites.—Num. 24:15-19; 2 Sam. 8:2, 13, 14.

VALUE

The book of Numbers forcefully illustrates the importance of obedience to Jehovah, respect for him and his servants, the need for faith and guarding against ungodly men (Num. 13:25–14:38; 22:7, 8, 22; 26:9, 10; Heb. 3:7–4:11; 2 Pet. 2:12-16; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14), not putting Jehovah to the test (Num. 21:5, 6; 1 Cor. 10:9), and refraining from murmuring (Num. 14:2, 36, 37; 16:1-3, 41; 17:5, 10; 1 Cor. 10:10, 11) and sexual immorality. (Num. 25:1-9; 31:16; 1 Cor. 10:6, 8) Jehovah’s dealings with Israel give evidence of his great power, mercy and loving-kindness and his being slow to anger, though not withholding punishment when deserving. (Num. 14:17-20) Further, the position and ministry of Moses (Num. 12:7; Heb. 3:2-6), the miraculous provision of water from the rock-mass (Num. 20:7-11; 1 Cor. 10:4), the lifting up of the copper serpent (Num. 21:8, 9; John 3:14, 15) and the water of cleansing (Num. 19:2-22; Heb. 9:13, 14) provided prophetic, pictures that were fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

The account provides background material that illuminates other scriptures. It shows on what basis Judean King Hezekiah was able to arrange the Passover on Ziv (Iyyar) 14, instead of Nisan (Abib) 14. (Num. 9:10, 11; 2 Chron. 30:15) The full discussion of Naziriteship (Num. 6:2-21) explains why Samson and Samuel were not to have their hair cut (Judg. 13:4, 5; 1 Sam. 1:11) and why John the Baptist was not to drink intoxicating beverages. (Luke 1:15) For additional examples, compare Numbers 2:18-23 and Psalm 80:2; Numbers 15:38 and Matthew 23:5; Numbers 17:8-10 and Hebrews 9:4; Numbers 18:26 and Hebrews 7:5-9; Numbers 18:31 and 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14; Numbers 28:9, 10 and Matthew 12:5.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I. Events in the wilderness of Sinai (1:1–10:10)

A. With exception of Levites, Israelite males from twenty years old upward registered for army (1:1-54)

B. Tribes assigned places of encampment in relation to tabernacle (2:1-34)

C. Levites registered and assigned sacred duties (3:1–4:49)

1. Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar continue serving as priests; Levites designated to assist them and constituted Jehovah’s property in place of firstborn Israelites (3:1-13)

2. Registration of Levite males from month old upward (3:14-39)

3. Exchange of Levites for firstborn of other tribes (3:40-51)

4. Service assignments and registration of male Kohathites, Gershonites and Merarites from thirty up to fifty years of age (4:1-49)

D. Various divine commands (5:1–6:27)

1. Quarantining the sick (5:1-4)

2. Confession of sins and making restitution (5:5-8)

3. Contribution of holy things (5:9, 10)

4. Procedure for handling case of woman suspected by husband as guilty of secret adultery (5:11-31)

5. Vows of Naziriteship (6:1-21)

6. Priestly blessing (6:22-27)

E. Twelve Israelite chieftains make joint presentation of gifts after setting up of tabernacle;