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Fifteen
being a multiple of five, partakes of the significance of that number, also of the number three with which it is combined, 3 x 5.
Five is, as we have seen, the number of grace, and three is the number of divine perfection. Fifteen, therefore,
specially refers to acts wrought by the energy of Divine grace.
Deity is seen in it, for the two Hebrew letters which express it are y, Yod (10), and h, Hey (5). These spell the ineffable Name of hy, Jah, who is the fountain of all grace. The number fifteen is
thus made up, by addition, 10 + 5; but as the Jews would not, by the constant use of these two letters, profane the sacred name, two other letters were arbitrarily used for this number, and
a different and artificial combination was thus formed—+ (Teth) = 9, and w (Vau) = 6. The number 9 + 6 would
thus represent the number fifteen, but without any significance.
Fifteen being 8 + 7 as well as 3 x 5, it may also include a reference to resurrection, as being a special mark of the energy of Divine grace
issuing in glory.
A few examples may suffice:
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The Ark was borne by the Flood fifteen cubits upwards, Genesis 7:20.
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Hezekiah's reprieve from death was fifteen years, 2 Kings 20:6.
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The Jews were delivered from death under Esther on the fifteenth day of the month (9:18,21). This is specially significant, as we have seen,
that their sentence to death was connected with the number thirteen.
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Bethany, where Lazarus was raised, and from whence the Lord ascended, was fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, John 11:18.
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Paul's ship anchored safely in fifteen fathoms on the 14th day, after thirteen days of toil and trial, Acts 27:21.
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On the fifteenth day of the first month was the feast of unleavened bread, Leviticus 23:6; and
- On the fifteenth day of the seventh month was the feast of Tabernacles (v 34).
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