Philologos
Bible Prophecy Research
Title: The Numbers 10, 11, and 12
Submitted by: research-bpr@philologos.org
Date: October 11, 1998
Update: April 06, 2001
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr/files/n008.htm

The Numbers 10, 11, and 12

Number in Scripture
Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
E. W. Bullinger

It has been already pointed out that ten is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers. The first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system, and originates the system of calculation called "decimals," because the whole system of numeration consists of so many tens, of which the first is a type of the whole.

Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.

NOAH

completed the antediluvian age in the tenth generation from God.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

contain all that is necessary, and no more than is necessary, both as to their number and their order, while

THE LORD'S PRAYER

is completed in ten clauses. *

* These clauses have the significance of their respective numbers:--

The first, God's sovereignty.
The second, Jehovah's manifested Name.
The third, the realization of God's kingdom.
The fourth first mentions the earth.
The fifth, the gift of grace supplying our need.
The sixth treats of man's sin.
The seventh pleads for spiritual guidance.
The eighth pleads for final deliverance from all evil.
The ninth sums up the divine glory (3 squared), while
The tenth completes the eternal cycles.

THE TITHES

represent the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognisiing God's claim on the whole.

THE REDEMPTION MONEY

was ten gerahs, and thus was acknowledged both what God claimed, and what man was responsible to give. Now ten gerahs was half a shekel (Exo 30:12-16; Num 3:47). Every male that was numbered, over 20 years of age, must pay this sum and meet God's claim. *

* When David numbered the people (2 Sam 24 and 1 Chron 21), this payment was not made and God's claim was not met. Hence the judgment which followed.

But the first-born were to pay ten times as much; for when God took the Levites instead of the first-born of Israel, there were found 22,273 first-born males, but only 22,000 Levites. So that 273 had to pay the ransom money, which amounted to ten times ten gerahs. Thus, though the five shekels looked like a variation, the significance of ten is sustained, for the five shekels were ten times the "half shekel." (See Numbers 3:12,13,40-51).

THE TEN PLAGUES
(For a "modern, scientific" explanation of the ten plagues, see "The Ten Plagues.")

were representative of the complete circle of God's judgments on Egypt. Exodus 9:14, "I will...send all my plagues."

ANTICHRIST'S WORLD-POWER

is comprised in the ten kingdoms, symbolized by the ten toes on the feet of the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Dan 2:41), and by the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel's vision (Dan 7:7,20,24, etc.; Rev 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,7,12).

TEN NATIONS

imply the whole of the nations which are to be the scene of Abraham's covenant possessions (Gen 15:19).

ABRAHAM'S FAITH

was proved by a completed cycle of ten trials:--

1. His departure from Haran.
2. His flight to Egypt from the famine.
3. In the seizure of Sarah.
4. In his war to rescue Lot.
5. In his taking Hagar.
6. In his circumcision.
7. In the second seizure of Sarah at Gerar.
8. In the expulsion of Ishmael.
9. In the expulsion of Hagar.
10. In the offering of Isaac.

THE TEN REBELLIONS

of Israel in the wilderness (Num 14:22) mark the completed series of Israel's perversities.

THE SILVER SOCKETS

which formed the foundation of the Tabernacle were 10 x 10 (Exo 38:27). These were made of silver, and silver is significant of redemption (1 Peter 1:18,19). *

* Ten also completed the number of the curtains (Exo 26:1).

FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN

ten times, six of which were in judgment:--

1. Genesis 19:24, on Sodom.
2. Leviticus 9:24, on the first offerings.
3. Leviticus 10:2, on Nadab and Abihu.
4. Numbers 11:1, on the murmurers at Taberah.
5. Numbers 16:35, on Korah and his company.
6. 1 Kings 18:38, on Elijah's offering at Carmel.
7. 2 Kings 1:10, on Elijah's enemies.
8. 2 Kings 1:12, on Elijah's enemies.
9. 1 Chronicles 21:26, on David's sacrifice.
10. 2 Chronicles 7:1, on Solomon's sacrifice.

TEN TIMES THE PEOPLE SHOUTED FOR JOY

1. Leviticus 9:24, when the fire from heaven consumed the first sacrifices.
2. Joshua 6:20, at the taking of Jericho.
3. 1 Samuel 4:5, when the Ark was brought into the camp.
4. 1 Samuel 10:24, when Saul was chosen king.
5. 1 Samuel 17:20, when Israel went to fight the Philistines.
6. 1 Samuel 17:52, when pursuing them.
7. 2 Samuel 6:15 (1 Chron 15:28), when the Ark was brought back from the house of Obed-edom.
8. 2 Chronicles 13:15, when God smote Jeroboam before Abijah.
9. 2 Chronicles 15:14, when Asa and the people heard Oded's prophecy.
10. Ezra 3:11, when the foundation of the second Temple was laid.

THE TEN VIRGINS

represent the whole of the nation of Israel (as distinct from the elect remnant, which is the Bride); * while the five denotes those who by grace will be able to say, "This is our God, we have waited for Him."

* The popular interpretation of this parable cannot be the correct one, for we cannot, in one parable, take two totally different classes of persons as representing one and the same person. It is impossible to take the Church as represented by both the Ten Virgins and the Bride! If the Church is the Bride, then it cannot be the Virgins. If the Church is represented by the Ten Virgins, then it cannot be the Bride. The only escape from the dilemma is not to read into the Gospel of Matthew that which was the subject of a subsequent revelation (Rom 16:25,26; Eph 3:1-11; Col 1:26,27); but to interpret Matthew by what was already the subject of previous revelation in the Old Testament about the Bride.

GOD'S RIGHTEOUS CURSES

are completed in a series of ten:--

1. Genesis 3:14, 15, on the serpent.
2. Genesis 3:17, the ground.
3. Genesis 4:11, Cain.
4. Genesis 9:25, Cainan.
5. Joshua 6:17, Jericho.
6. Joshua 6:28, Achan, Joshua 7:12, Achan.
7. Joshua 9:23, Gibeonites.
8. Judges 9:57, Shechemites.
9. 1 Kings 16:34, Hiel the Bethelite.
10. Mark 11:21, The Fig-tree.

"I HAVE SINNED."

Ten * persons complete the series of those who uttered this confession, and acknowledged their desert of divine judgment:--

* Of these ten, six were individual (the number of man), while four were on behalf of the nation--"We."

1. Pharaoh, Exodus 9:27, 10:16.
2. Balaam, Numbers 22:34.
3. Achan, Joshua 7:20.
4. Saul, 1 Samuel 15:24,30, 26:21.
5. David, 2 Samuel 12:13, 24:10,17; 1 Chronicles 21:8,17; Psa 41:4, 51:4.
6. Shimei, 2 Samuel 19:20.
7. Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18:14 (rendered "offended").
8. Job 7:20.
9. Micah 7:9.
10. Nehemiah 1:6.

THE TABERNACLE

is spoken of ten times as the "Tabernacle of Witness," or "Tabernacle of Testimony." Of these, five are mish-kahn, Exodus 38:21; Numbers 1:50,53 (twice), 10:11. This has special reference to the Tabernacle as the dwelling-place of God, from shahcan, "to dwell." Mish-kahn means the dwelling-place of God (Exo 25:8), and is therefore never used by the Holy Spirit of "whole congregation."

The other five are oh-el, Numbers 17:7,8,10, 18:2; 2 Chronicles 24:6. Oh-el means simply a tent, and has special reference to the meeting-place of the people by appointment or at appointed seasons. This is the word which is used by the Holy Spirit of the "tent of the congregation."

THE TEN WORDS OF PSALM 119

complete the cycle of the Divine description of His Word. One or other of these ten words occurs in every verse (except 122), viz., Way, Testimony, Precepts, Commandments, Laying, Law, Judgment, Righteousness, Statutes, Word. These, the Massorah says, "correspond to the Ten Commandments."

THE TENTH GENERATION

completed and represented the whole existence of the family or nation. In Deuteronomy 23:3 we read that "an Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever." The reason is given in verses 4 and 5. See also Nehemiah 13:1.

THE PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM

are ten in number in the Gospel of Matthew. Seven in chapter 13, and three in chapters 22 and 25.

THE UNRIGHTEOUS WHO SHALL NOT ENTER

the kingdom of God are enumerated in ten particulars (1 Cor 6:9,10).

THE SECURITY OF THE SAINTS

is set forth in a ten-fold enumeration, which completes the whole cycle of assurance to all who are "in Christ," Romans 8:38,39. They are given in two fives:-- "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers; nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature."

THE TEN I AM'S OF JESUS IN JOHN

1. "I am the Bread of Life" (6:35).
2. "I am the Bread of Life which came down from heaven" (6:41).
3. "I am the Living Bread" (6:51).
4. "I am the Light of the world" (8:12).
5. "I am One that bear witness of Myself" (8:18).
6. "I am the Door of the sheep" (10:7,9).
7. "I am the Good Shepherd" (10:14).
8. "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (14:6).
9. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (14:6).
10. "I am the True Vine" (15:1,5).

THE REPEATED NAMES

Ten completes the perfect cycle of the repeated Names. Moreover we shall note that these are divided significantly. Of these ten, seven are spoken directly to individual human beings, while three are spoken by the Lord in different connections. Of these seven, four are in the Old Testament, and three are in the New Testament.

1. Abraham, Abraham, Genesis 22:11.
2. Jacob, Jacob, Genesis 46:2.
3. Moses, Moses, Exodus 3:4.
4. Samuel, Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:10.
5. Martha, Martha, Luke 10:41.
6. Simon, Simon, Luke 22:31.
7. Saul, Saul, Acts 9:4.
8. Lord, Lord, Matthew 7:21,22, 25:11; Luke 6:46; 13:25.
9. Eloi, Eloi, Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46; Psa 22:1.
10. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34.

WORDS AND PHRASES WHICH OCCUR TEN TIMES

among these may be mentioned:--

THE TALMUD

calls attention to the fact that there are:--

____________________

Eleven

If ten is the number which marks the perfection of Divine order, then eleven is an addition to it, subversive of and undoing that order. If twelve is the number which marks the perfection of Divine government, then eleven falls short of it. So that whether we regard it as being 10 + 1, or 12 - 1, it is the number which marks, disorder, disorganization, imperfection, and disintegration.

There is not much concerning it in the Word of God, but what there is is significant, especially as a factor.

THE DUKES OF EDOM

were eleven in number (Gen 36:40-43), and Edom, though closely related to Israel, was different from it in order and government, while the bitterest hatred existed between them. The word for "Duke" is a multiple of 13.

THE ELEVEN SONS OF JACOB

told of the disintegration and disorganization in Jacob's family, which made it possible for it to be said "one is not."

FROM HOREB TO KADESH BARNEA

was a journey of eleven days (Deut 1:2). One more day would have carried them to the complete administration of all those wonderful laws which God had given them.

ELI, HOPHNI, AND PHINEHAS

have for their gematria the number 462, the factors of which are 11 and 42; both significant of the disorder in Eli's house, and of disintegration in Israel.

JEHOIAKIM REIGNED ELEVEN YEARS

when Nebuchadnezzar came up and began his disintegrating work on Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:36, 34:1; 2 Chron 36:5,6).

ZEDEKIAH REIGNED ELEVEN YEARS

when Nebuchadnezzar completed the work by putting an end to Israel's rule in Jerusalem (2 Chron 36:11; Jer 52:1), for "in the eleventh year the city was broken up" (Jer 39:2).

THE ELEVENTH YEAR

in which Ezekiel prophesied against Tyre (Eze 26:1) and against Egypt (30:20 and 31:1) was the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in which Jerusalem was broken up. And the threefold repetition of it is to impress us with the fact that Tyre and Egypt should be broken up, as Jerusalem had been.

THE ELEVEN APOSTLES

witness of disintegration even amongst the Twelve (Acts 2:14, etc.); while

THE ELEVENTH HOUR

(Matt 20:6,9) is proverbial as being contrary alike both to what is right in order and arrangement.

THE LIFE OF OUR LORD ON EARTH

was about 33 years (3 x 11), and then He was "cut off," and "we see not yet all things put under Him" (Dan 9:26; Heb 2:8).

ELEVEN HUNDRED

occurs only twice, both referring to days of defective administration, marked by the fact that there was "no king":--

Dan and Ephraim were the two offending tribes, for Micah, who made the image with the eleven hundred shekels, was an Ephraimite, and the tribe that stole it and his priest was the Tribe of Dan. Both are omitted from the tribes in Revelation 7, according to the declaration of Jehovah in Deuteronomy 29:18-20, that the "man, woman, family, or tribe" which should introduce idolatry into Israel, "the LORD shall BLOT OUT HIS NAME."

____________________

Twelve

is a perfect number, signifying perfection of government, or of governmental perfection. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which "rules" the day, and the moon and stars which "govern" the night, do so by their passage through the twelve signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions, and thus govern the year.

Twelve is the product of 3 (the perfectly Divine and heavenly number) and 4 (the earthly, the number of what is material and organic).

While seven is composed of 3 added to 4, twelve is 3 multiplied by 4, and hence denotes that which can scarcely be explained in words, but which the spiritual perception can at once appreciate, viz., organization, the products denoting production and multiplication and increase of all that is contained in the two numbers separately. The 4 is generally prominently seen in the twelve.

THERE WERE TWELVE PATRIARCHS

from Seth to Noah and his family, and twelve from Shem to Jacob.

THE TWELVE SONS OF ISRAEL

though actually thirteen in number, there are never more than twelve names in any one list. There are about 18 enumerations altogether, but in each list one or other is omitted. Generally it is Levi, but not always. In Revelation 7 both Dan and Ephraim are omitted, but the enumeration is still twelve, Levi and Joseph being introduced for this special sealing of the remnant which shall go unscathed through the great tribulation.

Then there were twelve Judges or Saviours.

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON

has the number twelve as the predominating factor, in contrast with the Tabernacle, which had the number five. This agrees with the grace which shines in the Tabernacle, and with the glory of the kingdom which is displayed in the Temple.

When we come to the New Testament we find the same great principle pervading the Apostolic government as we see in the Patriarchal and National, for we have:

THE MEASUREMENT OF THE NEW JERUSALEM

will be 12,000 furlongs square, while the wall will be 144 (12 x 12) cubits, Revelation 21:16,17.

The number of the sealed in Revelation 7:4 will be 144,000, and all that has to do with the Twelve Tribes is necessarily pervaded by this number, such as the stones in the High Priest's breastplate, the stones taken out of the Jordan, the number of the spies, etc. etc., and therefore we have not referred to all such reference in these pages.

TWELVE PERSONS WERE ANOINTED

for government of various kinds. Of course, all kings, priests, prophets, and healed lepers were anointed; but the circumstances of the anointing of twelve individuals is specially recorded. Of these, five were priests (Aaron and his four sons, Exodus 6:23) and seven were kings:

1. Aaron, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
2. Nadab, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
3. Abihu, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
4. Eleazar, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
5. Ithamar, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
6. Saul, 1 Samuel 10:1.
7. David, * 1 Samuel 16:13.
8. Absalom, 2 Samuel 19:10.
9. Solomon, 1 Kings 1:39.
10. Jehu, 2 Kings 9:6.
11. Joash, 2 Kings 11:12.
12. Jehoahaz, 2 Kings 23:30.

* David was anointed three times, viz:
by Samuel, 1 Samuel 16:13;
by the men of Judah, 2 Samuel 2:4;
by the elders of Israel, 2 Samuel 5:3.

It will be observed from the above list that Saul, the man of man's choice, is thus stamped with the number 6. David, the man of God's choice is stamped with the number seven. For Saul and David are the sixth and seventh respectively in order. The words, "a man after God's own heart," mean simply a man of God's choice, and not, as infidels are never tired of asserting, that God approved of all the sins which David fell into.

TWELVE YEARS

of age was Jesus when He first appears in public (Luke 2:42) and utters His first-recorded words.

TWELVE LEGIONS

of angels mark the perfection of angelic powers (Matt 26:53).

THE HALF OF TWELVE

sometimes denotes interruption or defect in human government, while

THE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES

of words agrees with its signification, e.g., aulee, "palace," occurs twelve times.

How Many Dimensions Are There?

(Actual Facts: Four items a day of enduring insignificance, UPI, Oct. 9, 1998)

Also see:
Number Patterns in Scripture by Susan Kanen

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