Bible Question: why is the number 40 important in the bible |
Bible Answer: Hi Peggy, Welcome to the forum. Numbers are regularly used in the Bible to convey ideas rather than in order to indicate exact amounts. Thus both Isaac and Esau were 'forty yars old' when they married. The idea is probably that they were seen to have reached maturity. If you look at ages in Genesis you will be surpirsed how many end in 0, 5, or 7 (in those days 5 was the base number, not ten, and 7 was seen as a divine number. It is clear that the number forty is often connected with God's judgments. The rain came at the Flood for forty days and forty nights. Goliath challenged Israel for forty days. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years (although strictly for thirty eight years, as the first two years included the wait at Sinai, and the journey from Egypt. But it is thought of in terms of forty years). The maximum number of stripes that could be given were forty. Israel was delivered into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. Forty is also seen as a period of waiting on God or similar. Moses went into the mount for forty days and forty nights. Elijah fled to Horeb taking forty days. Jesus Himself was tempted for forty days and forty nights. It is quite possible that in some cases it simply indicates 'a little over a month'. In Judges the land regularly 'has rest for forty years', probably indicatiing 'for a generation'. In one case it is eighty years (twice forty). Eli judged Israel for forty years. Ishbosheth began to reign when he was forty years old. Both David and Solomon reigned over Israel for forty years. These are probably round numbers (note how these were all within a comparatively short period). Thus the number does appear to be important to God, as representing His activity. Best wishes |