Meaning of Numbers in the Bible
8 (Eight) and 13 (Thirteen)

Meaning of Numbers in the Bible
Numbers 8 (Eight) and 13 (Thirteen)

that we may afterwards compare and contrast the two. For this purpose we must consider the number thirteen here, and out of its otherwise proper order.

As to the significance of thirteen, all are aware that it has come down to us as a number of ill-omen. Many superstitions cluster around it, and various explanations are current concerning them.

Unfortunately, those who go backwards to find a reason seldom go back far enough. The popular explanations do not, so far as we are aware, go further back than the Apostles. But we must go back to the first occurrence of the number thirteen in order to discover the key to its significance. It occurs first in Genesis 14:4, where we read "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and the thirteenth year they REBELLED."

Hence every occurrence of the number thirteen, and likewise of every multiple of it, stamps that with which it stands in connection with rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption, disintegration, revolution, or some kindred idea.

The second mention of thirteen is in connection with Ishmael, Genesis 17:25. He was thirteen years old when Abraham circumcised him and admitted him into the covenant to which he was a stranger in heart, and which ended in his rebellion and rejection.

But it is when we come to

GEMATRIA

that the most wonderful results are seen. These results may be stated thus, briefly: That the names of the LORD's people are multiples of eight, while the names of those who apostatized, or rebelled, or who were in any sense His enemies, are multiples of thirteen. This statement, if it be proved, is one of the greatest evidences of verbal inspiration which the world has yet seen. The discovery of the great principle is due, we believe, to the late Dr. Milo Mahan, of New York, who has given many examples of it in his work already referred to, now long out of print. The effect of this law can hardly be estimated in establishing the presence of an ever-present working of the Holy Spirit in inditing the very words and even the letters of Scripture. No human foresight or arrangement could have secured such a result beforehand; no human powers could have carried it out in such perfection. No matter where we look, we find the working of the law without cessation, without a break, without a flaw from beginning to end. Only one conclusion is possible, and that is that the Bible has but one Author, an eternal, omniscient Author, designing, superintending, working, and carrying out His own infinite plans.

Let us take a survey of this wondrous field

THE SETH and CAIN LINES

The numerical value of the Seth line of names collectively is a multiple of 8; whilst those of the Cain line collectively is a multiple of 13.

The Seth Line of Names

* Japheth was the eldest son of Noah, though Shem was chosen for the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Taking the Noah group separately, we have:

Without Ham, the three names, Noah, Shem, and Japheth, equal 888. With Ham they equal 936, as above; but this, though it is a multiple of 8, is at the same time a multiple of 13, and of 9 also, the number of judgment.

The gematria of the whole Scripture, Genesis 5:6-24, which contains the record of these names, amounts to 62960 (or 8x7870).

The Cain Line of Names

The family of Lamech is also significant if looked at separately:

• Lamech and Adah 169 (13²)
• The two wives, Adah and Zillah 611 (13x47)
• Jabal, his firstborn, the father of the Bedouin 42 (the No. of Antichrist)
• Tubal Cain 598 (13x46)
• The whole family, including the daughter, Naamah 1924 (or 13x148)

The history of the Cain family is given in Genesis 4:1-25, and spreads over 130 years (13x10). See Genesis 5:3.

Further, the whole Scripture which records the history, Genesis 4:1-25, yields by gematria 76882 (13x5914). There is, however, a remarkable exception which "proves the rule." Verse 25 records the birth of Seth, and its value is 6560 (8x820); verse 26, also, which records the birth of his son Enos, and tells how men began then to "call upon the name of the LORD," yields 3064 (8x383).

Contrast this with verse 1, where the numerical value of the words "and she conceived and bare Cain" is 1612 (13x124).

The years of Adam during the days of Cain, before the birth of Seth, were 130 (13x10): see Genesis 5:3. While after the birth of Seth he lived 800 years (8x100), Genesis 5:4.

THE GEMATRIA OF LAMECH'S SONG

in Genesis 4:23,24, is 4667 (13x359); while the sentence pronounced on Cain in vv 10-13 is 10283 (13x791).

GENESIS VI

The record in Genesis 6, which gives the apostasy of man, leading up to the judgment of the Flood, is stamped and branded throughout with significant numbers:

• Verses 1-3 amount to 7272 (6x1212).
• Verse 2 amounts to 3198 (13x6x41).
• Verse 4, "the same were mighty men which were of old, men of renown" 1703 (13x131).
• Verses 5-7, which speak concerning the corruption 10335 (13x795).
• Verses 1-7 21672 (6²x602).

But now contrast vv 8-10 concerning Noah--"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD," etc., 7008 (8x876):

• Verses 11-17, the end of all flesh, the command to build the ark, and the threat of the Flood 33540 (13x2580).
• Verses 14-16, concerning the ark 17668 (4x4417).
• Verses 12, 13 and 17 together, concerning the violence and corruption 13320 (666x20).
• Verses 18-22, which speak of the covenant to save Noah and his house, while they are stamped with the number 13 (which is the number of atonement as well as of sin, see below), are stamped also with the triple five, the 15 of perfect grace by which Noah was called, and by the number 2, which tells of incarnation and deliverance. The gematria of these verses is 15002 (13x1154).

GENESIS 10:15-18

The Canaanite names:

THE DESCENDANTS OF JOKTAN (Genesis 10:25-29)

The whole passage (Genesis 10:25-29) yields the number 10647 (13²x63). Such are the pains taken to emphasise the rise of the progenitors of the Saracens, for Joktan settled in S. Arabia, while Ishmael settled in Arabia Petrea.

THE LINE OF ARPHAXAD (Genesis 11:10-27)

NAHOR'S FAMILY

Thus the entire generation is 4832 (8x604).

THE GENERATIONS OF ABRAHAM

Abraham had eight sons. Seven of them were born "after the flesh," while the eighth was "by promise."

* Isaac's household was a divided one, as well as Jacob's; hence we have the 13 as a factor as well as 8.

JACOB'S FAMILY

Leah's Six Sons

Add parents' names (Jacob 182, and Leah 36), and we have 1944 (8x243).

Rachel's Two Sons (Spelling taken as in Genesis 35:22-26)

Rachel's Maid

Leah's Maid

The whole family of Jacob, including Ephraim (331) and Manasseh (395) = 4512 (8³x4000).

THE Twelve TRIBES

are enumerated in some 18 (3x6) different ways, in which one is always omitted. For there were 12 tribes; but there were also 13, telling of God's design for perfect government, and of man's apostasy from that government.

• In Deuteronomy 32 Simeon is left out.
• In Revelation 7 Dan and Ephraim are omitted (Joseph and Levi being inserted).
• Generally it is Levi that is omitted.
• Arranged in their 4 camps, as in Numbers 2, their value is 3736 (8x467).
• Arranged as in Revelation 7, the value (according to the Greek spelling, of course) is 8480 (8x1060).
• Arranged as in Numbers 13:3-16, in connection with the rebellion on the return of the 12 spies, we see defection at once; for all the representatives of the tribes failed except Caleb and Joshua (788).
  • The whole passage = 17654 (13x1358).
  • From verse 4-16 = 12038 (13x926).

To go back, however, to Genesis, we now take

ISHMAEL'S Twelve SONS (Genesis 25:12-17)

THE Eleven DUKES OF EDOM

Genesis 36:40-43 is by gematria 9880: thus--

• Verse 40 = 5453
• Verse 41 = 670
• Verse 42 = 1340
• Verse 43 = 2417 (as far as "he is Esau")
• Total 9880 (13x760)

The word Pwl) (al-luph), "duke," amounts to 117 (13x9).

And eleven times repeated, it is still a multiple of 13, viz., 1287 (13x99).

THE ABRAHAM-KETURAH GROUP (Genesis 25:1,2)

THEIR DESCENDANTS IN GEN 25:3

THE SONS OF MIDIAN (Genesis 25:4)

The phrase which concludes the lists, "All these are the sons of Keturah," has for its value 468 (13x36), making with the numbers above 5213 for the whole group, or 13x401.

The whole passage is also a multiple of 13.

THE INCESTUOUS CHILDREN OF LOT (Genesis 19)

Ben-Ammi (children of Ammi) 182 (13x14)

The whole passage (Genesis 19:31-38) is a multiple of 13

GENESIS 19

• "And there came two angels to Sodom at even," 640 (8x80)
• "And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom"* = 1313
• Verse 1. The whole verse, 4299, significant of Antichrist (42) and judgment (9).
• Verses 1-25 = 90441 (13x9x773).
• Verses 26-29, describing the results of the overthrow = 14274 (13x9x122).
• Verses 1-29, the entire account = 104715 (13x9x895).
• Lots words in verse 7 = 777.
  Verse 25. The work of the LORD in the overthrow = 2888.
• The account in the Second Epistle of Peter = 6999

* Even the expression in 2 Peter 2:7, "and righteous Lot," is 1326 (13x102).

It will be observed how we have here not only the number thirteen, but also the number nine, which...is the number of judgment.

THE DESTRUCTION OF JERICHO

is also stamped with the number thirteen, though not by gematria, for the city was compassed once each day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, making 13 times in all (6+7). Jericho, wxry, is 234 which is 13x2x9 (nine being the number of judgment).

THE Twelve JUDGES

who were raised up as saviours in a time of apostasy and rebellion exhibit both these factors, 8 and 13

Abimelech the usurper (Judges 9) by his name

The Judges period ends under Samuel, 377 (13x29), and the last three names which come before us are--

Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, which together amount to 462 (42x11).