Numbers of Words and Occurrences

Turning now to another department we come to a large subject, which has already been touched upon.

Some writers see seven everywhere and in everything in the Bible. But this is to deny, practically, the significance of all other numbers, and to lose all their instruction. Still we must admit that in the structure and outward form of Holy Writ, as being the special work of the Holy Spirit, we do see this stamp of spiritual perfection in a very remarkable manner. Mr. Samuell calls attention to the number as we see it:

1. In the occurrences of single words.
2. In the occurrences of important phrases.
3. In groups of words from the same root.
4. In groups of words from different roots, but with similar meaning.

And this not merely in the Bible as a whole, but sometimes very markedly:

1. In the Old Testament.
2. In the Hebrew or Chaldee portions of the Old Testament.
3. In the New Testament.
4. In a particular book.
5. In all the books of a particular writer.
6. In a particular section of a book referring to a special subject.

Let us look at a few examples, and first of the number of words used for a particular thing. We have already seen an example of this under the number six.

Seven Words for Gold

As brass is symbolical of judgment (seen in the brazen altar), so gold is symbolical of glory, and glory is grace consummated. "The LORD will give grace and glory" (Psalm 84:11). "Whom He justified them He also glorified" (Romans 8:30).

Hence the number of spiritual perfection in the words used for gold:

1. bhz (zah-hahv), from root to shine, glitter, like gold. Hence the common name for gold. This is earthly gold, than which the Word of God is more to be desired (Psalm 19:7-10).

2. zp (pahz), fine or refined gold. "More to be desired are they than gold (bhz), yea, than much fine gold (zp)," Psalm 19:10.

   "Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold (bhz); yea, above fine gold (zp)," Psalm 119:127.

   "Thou settest a crown of pure gold (zp) upon his head" (Psalm 21:3).

   This word is therefore rightly used of the perfections of the living and the written Word. For He "knew no sin" (2Corinthians 5:21). He "did no sin" (1 Peter 2:22). "In Him was no sin" (1 John 3:5).

3. rcb (betzer), Job 22:24, 25, and rcb (b'tzar), gold ore or dust, from root to dig out or cut off. Hence used of gold broken up.

   The sense of Job 22:24, 25 is completely lost in the Authorized Version . In the Revised Version it reads, verse 22.

   "Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth,
   And lay up His words in thine heart.
   If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up;
   If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.
   And lay thou thy treasure (rcb) in the dust,
   And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
   And the Almighty shall be thy treasure (rcb),
   And precious silver unto thee."

   Hence, if we have His Word abiding in us, He Himself is our treasure and our defence. "His truth shall be thy shield" (Psalm 91:2).

4. Cwrx (chah-rootz), from Crx (charatz), to chop or cut off short; then of the instrument which the stone-cutter uses; then of the pieces cut off. Hence gold in pieces or parts, as preserved in the word carats, specially applied to gold.*

   * Job 41:30; Psalm 68:13; Proverbs 3:14, 8:10,19, 16:16; Isaiah 28:27, 41:15; Daniel 9:25; Joel 3:14; Amos 1:3; Zechariah 9:3.

   As applied to God's "workmanship" we are cut off and tried as gold and precious stones. "When He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). "The furnace is for gold, but God trieth the hearts" (Proverbs 17:3).

5. Mtk (keh-them), from Mtk (kah-tham), to cut in, engrave (only in Jeremiah 2:22, "Mine iniquity is marked before me"). As used of gold it implies that it is true and sterling, having the stamp or mark graved upon it.* As a title of the Psalms it is used with the prefix m, mem. Mtkm (michtam), writing, especially writing cut in or engraved with a stylus (like the LXX sthlografia, "a sculptured writing"**). btkm, michtahv, means simply a writing.*** A writing of David concerning David's Son and David's Lord.

   * It occurs Job 28:16,19, 31:24; Psalm 45:9; Proverbs 25:12; Song 5:11; Isaiah 13:12; Lamentations 4:1; Daniel 10:5.

   ** sthlh (steelee) was the word for grave-stone. Hence these Psalms point to Resurrection, Psalm 16, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60.

   *** See Exodus 32:16, 39:30; Deuteronomy 10:4; 2Chronicles 21:12, 35:4, 36:22; Ezra 1:1; Isaiah 38:9.

6. rwgs (s'gohr), from rgs (sah-gar), to shut up, enclose, used of gold as being solid, 1 Kings 6:20, "he overlaid it with pure [marg., shut up] gold," i.e. gold plates, not merely gold leaf or wash. Occurs in Job 28:15, "It cannot be gotten for gold," i.e. the wisdom of God's Word. "Every word of God is pure." "Add thou not unto His words."

7. bhd (d'hav, Chal.), meaning same as bhz (see number 1 above); occurs only in Ezra and Daniel.

Thus the fact of there being seven words for gold speaks to us of the spiritual perfection of the Word of God, which is so often compared to it.

Seven different names for Palestine

In Old Testament only:

1. "The Holy Land," Zechariah 2:12 (#dqh tmd), Admath Ha-kadosh; LXX, h gh h agia; early Christian writers, Terra sancta). Very common in Middle Ages, now used only geographically.

2. "The Land of Jehovah," only in Hosea 9:3. Compare Leviticus 25:23; Psalm 85:1; Isaiah 8:8; Joel 1:6, 3:2; Jeremiah 16:18.

In New Testament only:

3. "The Land of Promise, " Hebrews 11:9. This title is based of course on the Old Testament and other Scriptures. Compare Genesis 13:15; Deuteronomy 34:1-4; Genesis 50:24; Ezekiel 20:42; Acts 7:5.

4. Judea, or the Land of Judah, hdwhy Cr). This name was at first used only of the territory of the Tribe of Judah (2 Chron 9:11), but after the Captivity it was used of the whole land, even including the East of the Jordan, Luke 1:5, 23:5; Matthew 19:1; Acts 28:21.

In Old and New Testament:

5. "The Land," Cr)h, Ha-ahretz, Ruth 1:1; Jeremiah 12:11; Luke 5:25; Matthew 27:45. This was a strictly Jewish name.

6. "The Land of Israel," l)r#y Cr). First used in 1Samuel 13:19, and occasionally in later books (2 Kings 5:2, 6:23). In Ezekiel oftener than in all the rest of the Bible. Matthew 2:21. This name is also essentially Jewish.

7. "Canaan," N(nk (K'naan). So called after the son of Ham, by whose descendants it was at first inhabited (Genesis 9:18, 10:15-19). It is therefore the oldest name, and was confined to the country west of the Jordan. See Exodus 6:4, 15:15; Leviticus 14:34; Deuteronomy 22:39; Joshua 14:1; Psalm 105:11; Genesis 17:8.

The name Palestine and Palestina, when the Authorized Version was made, was equivalent to Philistia. See Psalm 60:8, 87:4; 108:9. It is never used of the whole land, but only of "Philistia." See Kitto, vol, iii. p. 386.

Some Words which occur Seven Times

(1) Old Testament

• rwz) (Eh-zor), a girdle, 14.

• hrkz) (az-kah-rah), memorial, 7.

• rk) (ik-kar), husbandman, 7.

• Pn) (ah-naph), to be angry, 14.

• rs) (Chald., esahr), a decree, 7 (all in Daniel 6).

• qp) (ah-phak), to restrain, 7.

• rqb (bah-kar), to search, 7.

• rb (bar), clean, 7.

• rb (bar) and rb (bahr), corn, 14.

• yrb (b'ree) and )yrb (bah-ree), fat, 14.

• tyrb (b'reeth), covenant; 7 in Genesis 9 of God's covenant with Noah, and 14 in Genesis 15 and 17 of God's covenant with Abraham.

• hlwg (goh-lah), captivity, 42 (7 being in the simple form, and 7 with the preposition b, into, prefixed).

• hzg (gizzah), a fleece, 7 (all in Judges 6:37-40).

• Ng (gan), a garden, 42 (14 being in Genesis, and 28 elsewhere).

• )#d (deh-sheh), grass, 14.

• qqz (zah-kak), to refine, 7.

• yx (chah'y), living: In Chaldee, 7.

• In Hebrew, 168, viz:—

  Leviticus	35	168 (7x8x3)
  Numbers	7
  Deuteronomy	21
  Samuel	49
  Solomon's	56

  
  

  In Chaldee it occurs 7 times (Ezra 6:10; Daniel 2:30, 4:17,34; 6:20,26, 7:12).

• hry+ (tee-rah), an enclosure, or castle, etc., 7.

• P+ (taph), little children, 42:

  Deuteronomy	7	42 (6x7)
  Rest of Pentateuch	21
  Elsewhere	14

  
  

• ydwhy (y'hudee), a Jew (singular) 10; Jehudi (proper name) 4 = 14.

• dly (yah-lad), to beget, 28 in Genesis 5.

• qxcy (yitz-chahk) and qx#&y (yis-chahk), Isaac, 112:

  
  

  Deuteronomy	7	112 (7x8x2)
  Rest of Pentateuch	91
  Elsewhere	14

  
  

• Nhk (Koh-heyn), priest 7 in Genesis

• hnhk (K'hoonnah), the priest's office, 14.

• hnwbl (l'voh-nah), frankincense, 21 (7 being in Leviticus).

• Nm (mahn), manna, 14.

• )n (nah), I pray, or vow, 406 (7x58).

• hnygn (n'gee-nah), a song, 14: In Psalm titles, 7; Elsewhere, 7.

• Ngn (nah-gan), to play on a stringed instrument, 7 in 1Samuel 16-19, all spoken of David.

• My)c)c (tzeh-^etzaheem), offspring, 7 in Isaiah.

• Mwc (tzoom), to fast, 21.

• tlhq (ko-he-leth), a preacher, 7, all in Ecclesiastes:

  3 in beginning, 1:1, 2, 12
  1 in middle, 7:27
  3 at the end, 12:8, 9, 10

• M(n (noh-gam), beauty, Psalm 27:4, 90:17; Zechariah 11:7, 10: pleasantness, Proverbs 3:17: pleasant, Proverbs 15:26, 16:24.

• Ntn (n'than), to give or bestow, Ezra 4:13, 7:20 twice; Daniel 4:16, 4:17, 25, 32.

• hml( (al-mah), a maiden, Genesis 24:43; Exodus 2:8; Psalm 68:25; Proverbs 30:19; Song 1:3, 6:8; Isaiah 7:14.

• Pr# (sah-raph), fiery serpents, Numbers 21:6, 8; Deuteronomy 8:15; Isaiah 6:2, 6, 14:29, 30:6.

• hmr (rim-mah), a worm, 7.

• N+# (sah-tahn), Satan, 14 in Job.

• rwt (tohr), a turtle dove, 14.

• El-Shaddai* (God Almighty), Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11, 43:14, 48:3; Exodus 6:36; Ezekiel 10:5.

* Shaddai (Almighty) without El occurs 48 times (4x12), a number which speaks of perfection of dominion over the earth.

(2) New Testament

• agnizw (agnizo), to purify.
• ahr (aeer), air, 7.
• anastasiV (anastasis), resurrection; 42 times, 21 of which have the article, and seven are in the dative case.
• apath (apatee), deceit.
• apeimi (apeimi), to be absent, 7.
• argurion (argurion), pieces of silver money (7, in connection with Judas).
• asthr (asteer), a star, 14 in Revelation.
• afqartoV (aphthartos), incorruptible, 7.
• basileuw (basileuo), to reign, 21 (seven being in Revelation; 14 elsewhere).
• douloV (doulos), servant, 14 in Revelation.
• epistamai (epistamai), to know, 14.
• epistathV (epistatees), master, 7 (all in Luke).
• epitagh (epitagee), commandment, 7.
• hgeomai (hegeomai), to be chief, 28.
• amwmoV (amomos), 7:

  without blemish, Ephesians 5:27; 1 Peter 1:19
  without spot, Hebrews 9:4
  without fault, Revelation 14:5
  without blame, Ephesians 1:4
  faultless, Jude 24
  unblameable, Colossians 1:22
  

• parousia (parousia), presence or coming, 7 times in 1 and 2Thessalonians (4 times in the first Epistle and 3 times in the second).
• Siwn (Sion), Zion, 7 times.
• filhma (phileema), a kiss, 7.
• wdh (odee), a song, 7.
• yalmoV (psalmos), psalm, 7.

Phrases

(1) Old Testament

• )nq l) (El quannah) 5 [a jealous God].
  )wnq l) (El quannoh) 2 [a jealous God].

• My)b Mymy hnh (Hinneh yahmim baheem), Behold, the days come, 21.*

  * "Lo" in Jeremiah 30:3; Amos 4:2, instead of "Behold."

• )wh rwh+ (tahor hu), he or it (is) unclean, 7 (all in Leviticus 11 and 13).

• )wh )m+ (tamey hu), he or it (is) unclean, 7 in Leviticus 13.

• Mkl )wh )m+ (Tamey hu lahkem), he or it is unclean unto you, 7 (all in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14).

• Kyhl) hwhy Kkrby (Y'bahrek'kah Y'hovah Eloheka), the LORD thy God shall bless thee, 7; Deuteronomy 14:24, 29, 15:10, 16:10, 15, 23:20, 24:19.*

  * Not always translated in the same way.

• tw)bc hwhy (Y'hovah Ts'baioth), the LORD of hosts, 7 in the Psalms and 14 in Haggai.

• rbd hwhy yk (Kee Y'hovah dibber), for the LORD hath spoken, 7; 1 Kings 14:11; Isaiah 1:2, 22:25, 25:8; Jer 13:15; Joel 4:8; Obadiah 18.

• "As I live saith the Lord GOD," 14 (all in Ezekiel).

• "As I live" (spoken by God), 7; Numbers 14:28; Isaiah 49:18; Jeremiah 22:24, 46:18; Ezekiel 17:19, 33:27; Zephaniah 2:9.

• "Daughter of Jerusalem," 14 (7 in singular and 7 in plural).

• "Rising up early and sending" (spoken of God), 7 (viz., 2Chronicles 36:15, and 6 times in Jeremiah).

• "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego" (Chald.), 14 in Daniel 2:49-3:30.

• "The land which [the LORD] sware unto...Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob," 7; Genesis 50:24; Exodus 33:1; Numbers 32:11; Deuteronomy 1:8, 6:10, 30:20, 34:4.

• "The tree of life," 7 (3 in Genesis literally; and 4 in Proverbs, figuratively).

• "The voice of the LORD," 7 times in Psalm 29.

• "And it came to pass in the days of" ymyb yhyw (Va-y'hee Beemaye), 7 times; always indicating a time of sorrow and distress, (yhyw (Vayhee) sounding like the Greek ouai, woe; Lat., voe), following by a manifestation of delivering grace.

  1. Genesis 14:1. The war which brought sorrow to Lot and distress to Abraham ends in the blessing of Melchisedek.

  2. Ruth 1:1. The famine and bereavement ending in blessing, marriage, and redemption.

  3. 2 Samuel 21:1. A famine again ending in divine deliverance (verse 14).

  4. Isaiah 7:1. The confederacy against Jerusalem ending in the promise of Messiah's birth (verse 14).

  5. Jeremiah 1:3. The captivity of Judah followed by the promise of restoration.

  6. Esther 1:1. The danger and distress of the Jewish nation ending in a complete and happy deliverance.

  7. Luke 2:1. The enrollment of Caesar Augustus, showing that the land and the people were tributary to Rome, followed by the birth of the Lord Jesus.

  8. Jehovah is said to "Dwell between the cherubim" 7 times: 1Samuel 4:4; 2Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; 1Chronicles 13:6; Psalm 80:1, 99:1; Isaiah 37:16.

(2) New Testament

• "As it is written,"* 28 (4x7).

  * to rhqen (to reethen), "that which was spoken," occurs 12 times (omitting Matthew 27:35 and Mark 13:14 with Revised Version ). For the writing was given by inspiration of the Spirit (7); while the speaking was in Divine sovereignty and government.
  

  kaqwV gegraptai wV gegraptai

  24 4

  28

  Gospels Romans Elsewhere

  7 14 7

  
  

• "From the foundation of the world," apo katabolhV kosmou (apo katabolees kosmou), 7 times, because relating to God's work of grace; while the phrase "before the foundation of the world" occurs 3 times,* because relating to the act of Divine sovereignty. The seven occurrences are 3 in the Gospels and 4 elsewhere: Matthew 13:35, 25:34; Luke 11:50; Hebrews 4:3, 9:26; Revelation 13:8, 17:8.

  * John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20. See analysis of the number 3.

• "The Sabbath day," 7.

• "After the order," kata thn taxin (kata teen taxin), 7 (all in Hebrews).

• "The first day of the week," mia (ton) Sabbatwn (mia (ton) sabbaton), 7.

• pistoV (pistos), faithful, followed by o logoV (ho logos), the word or saying, 7 (all in the Pastoral Epistles, 1Timothy 1:15, 3:1, 4:9, 12; 2Timothy 2:11; Titus 1:9, 3:8*).

  * This "faithful saying" does not refer to what follows it, but to what precedes it in verses 3-7. The affirmation of this is to be made "in order that (ina) they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works."

• "Children of Israel," 14.

• "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth," 7.

Words from the Same Root

(1) Old Testament

• d#) (eshed), a stream 1, and twd#) (ashedoth), springs, 6. Total, 7.

• Myzng (g'nah-zeem), treasuries, 3; Nyzng (ginzeen, Chal.), treasure, 3; and Kzng (ganzak), a treasury, 1. Total, 7.

• b#k (kesev), a lamb, 13; hb#k (kisbah), a ewe-lamb, 1. Total, 14.

• Pws (sooph), to have an end, Hebrew 8; Chald., 2: Pws (soph), the end, Hebrew, 5; Chaldee, 5; hpws (suphah), a whirlwind, Heb., 15. Total, Hebrew 28; Chaldee 7; 35 in all.

• Mqr (rahqam), to embroider, 9; hmqr (riqmah), broidered work, 12. Total, 21.

• +m# (shamat) to release, etc., 9; h+m# (sh'mittah), a release, 5. Total, 14.

(2) New Testament

• asthr (asteer), a star, 24; astron (astron), a star, 4. Total, 28.

• basanoV (basanos), torment, 3; basanizw (basanizo), to torment, 12; basanismoV (basanismos), torment, 5; basanisthV (basanistees), a tormentor, 1. Total, 21.

• Galatia, Galatia, 4 times: 1Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:2; 2Timothy 4:10; 1 Peter 1:1. Galatians, once: Galatians 3:1. Of Galatia, twice: Acts 16:6, 18:23. Total, 7.

• eleuqeroV (eleutheros), free, 23; eleuqeria (eleutheria), freedom, 11; eleuqerow (eleutheroo), to set free, 7; apeleuqeroV (apeleutheros), a freed-man, 1. Total, 42.
  

  In Romans	7	42
  In St. John's Gospel and Revelation	7
  Elsewhere	28

  
  

• hcoV (eechos), a sound, 3; hcew (eecheo), to sound, 2; exhceomai (exeecheomai), to sound forth, 1; kathcew (kateecheo), to teach by sound (or word of mouth), 8. Total, 14.

Words from a Different Root but with Similiar Meanings

* The Revised Version with the textual editors read arshn (neut.) for arrhn in these three passages: Romans 1:27; Revelation 12:5,13.

** Reading trefw, "to nourish," in Luke 23:29 with Revised Version and editors.

amnoV (amnos), lamb	4	35 (5x7)
arhn (areen), lamb (Luke 10:3)	1
arnion (arnion), lamb	30

gelaw (gelao), to laugh		2	6
	gelwV (gelos), laughter	1
	katagelaw (katagelao), to laugh to scorn	3
mukthrizw (mukteerizo), to mock		1	3
	ekmukthrizw (ek-mukteerizo), to deride	2
empaizw (empaizo), to mock		13	17
	empaigmoV (empaigmos), mocking	1
	empaigmonh (empaigmonee), mockery	*1
	empaikthV (empaiktees), a mocker	2
cleuazw (chleuazo), to mock		**2	2
Total of the four roots (4x7)			28

* This word is added by the Textual Editors and Revised Version in 2 Peter 3:3, which would thus read "scoffers with scoffing."

** All the authorities read diacleuazw in Acts 2:13.

ormh (hormee), onset	2	20
ormaw (hormao), to rush	5
ormhma (hormeema), a mighty fall	1
aformh (aphormee), occasion	7
koniortoV (koniortos), dust	5
parotrunw (par-otruno), stir up	1	1
(3x7)		21

Sometimes a single chapter or separate portion may be taken and dealt with by itself, and thus form a fruitful subject of Bible study. We give an example of Ezekiel 36:

I. Seven things concerning Israel today:—

1. Unclean in the sight of God (verse 29).
2. Possessed of stony hearts (verse 26).
3. Profaning God's holy Name (verses 20, 22).
4. Scattered among the heathen (verse 19).
5. Covered with infamy and shame (verses 3-6).
6. Subject to heathen rule (verse 6).
7. Desolate, forsaken, and a reproach (verses 3,4,30).

II. Seven things God will do to Israel's oppressors:—

1. Speak in jealousy against them (verse 5).
2. Turn their glory into shame (verse 7).
3. Dispossess them of their occupation in the land (verses 10,11).
4. Give them to Israel for a possession (verse 12).
5. Break their power to crush Israel (verses 13,14).
6. Vindicate and glorify His own name among them (verse 22).
7. Teach them that He is God (verses 36,38).

III. Seven things God will do for Israel:—

1. Gather them out of all countries (verse 24).
2. Bring them into their own land (verse 24).
3. Cleanse them from filth and idols (verse 26).
4. Give them new hearts and minds, and His spirit (verses 26,27).
5. Make them again His people (verse 28).
6. Cause them to flourish and multiply (verse 30).
7. Make their end better than their beginning (verse 11).

IV. Seven things Israel themselves will do:—

1. Remember their past evil (verse 31).
2. Loathe themselves for their iniquity (verse 31).
3. Be ashamed and confounded (verse 32).
4. Walk in Jehovah's statutes (verse 27).
5. Keep His judgments (verse 27).
6. Dwell for ever in the land (verse 33).
7. Pray for the accomplishment of all these blessings (verse 37).

Gematria

One or two examples may be given of the numbers in names, etc., though many more are given elsewhere.

• Enoch, "the seventh from Adam" = 84 (7x12).
• "Heirs of God," in the Greek = 1071 (7x153).
• "The Lamb," in Greek = 651 (=7x93 or 7x3x31).

The Multiples of Seven

The multiples of seven as a rule partake of the same spiritual significance, and therefore we have not treated all of them specially, but only where they have a peculiar significance arising from the power of the other factor, as is the case with 42, 49, 70, etc.

As an example of one of the other multiples we may take.

The Ass

The "ass" is the only animal that man is compared to: see Job 11:12, "For vain man would be wise, though man be born a wild ass's colt."

In Exodus 13:13 the first-born of man is classed with the firstling of an ass. Both must be redeemed with a lamb. This is repeated in Exodus 34:20. Nothing less than a sacrificial redemptive act could bring such a being to God.

There are 28 (4x7) asses separately spoken of, and with these may be compared the 28 (4x7) "times" connected with "vain man" in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

1. Balaam's ass (Numbers 22:21), "a time to speak."

2. Achsah's ass (Joshua 15:18), "a time to get," when she lighted off her ass to make her request and get what she asked.

3. Samson's (Judges 15:15), "a time to war."

4. The Levite's (Judges 19:28), "a time to be silent," when "none answered," and he sent his desperate, silent message throughout Israel.

5. Abigail's (1Samuel 25:20), "a time of peace," when she met David and made peace for Nabal.

6. Her second ass (verse 42), "a time to love," when she went to meet David and became his wife.

7. Ahithophel's (2Samuel 17:23), "a time to die," when he saddled his ass and went and hanged himself.

8. The "old prophet's" ass (1 Kings 13:13,27), "a time to kill," when he found "the man of God" killed by the lion.

9. The "man of God's" ass (verse 28), "a time to mourn," when the old prophet laid him thereon "to mourn and to bury him."

10. The Shunamite's ass (2 Kings 4:24), "a time to heal," when she rode to Elisha, who restored her son.

11. Mephibosheth's (2Samuel 19:26), "a time to embrace," when he would go and salute David.

12. Shimei's (1 Kings 2:40), "a time to die."

13. Jesse's (1Samuel 16:20), "a time to live" (21).

14. Moses' (Exodus 4:20-26), "a time to kill," when he incurred the judgment of Genesis 17:14.

15. Abraham's (Genesis 22:3), "a time to get and a time to lose," when God demanded back the son He had given.

16. The Saviour's ass (Matthew 20:5), "a time to laugh," when the daughter of Jerusalem rejoiced.

17. The young, its foal (Matthew 21:5).

18. - 28. The asses of Jacob's sons (Genesis 44:13), filling up the other "times."

Additional Miscellaneous Illustrations

Seven miracles wrought by Christ on the Sabbath day:—

1. The withered hand, Matthew 12:9.
2. The unclean spirit, Mark 1:21.
3. Peter's wife's mother, Mark 1:29.
4. The woman, Luke 13:11.
5. The man with dropsy, Luke 14:2.
6. The impotent man, John 5:8,9.
7. The man born blind, John 9:14.

"The last day" mentioned seven times in John's Gospel:—John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, 7:37, 11:24, 12:48.