Meaning of Numbers: The Number 22
The number 22, which is double eleven (which symbolizes disorder and chaos), can mean a concentration of disorganization. Jeroboam I, the very first king of Israel after the kingdom split in two in 930 B.C., reigned for 22 official years (21 actual years from 930 to 909 B.C.).
The Hebrew alphabet is made up of 22 letters, which are used to compose the Word of God. The word of God is called a lamp (Psalms 119:105), thus it is the light by which we are to live.
The word light is found 264 times in the Bible. When 264 is divided by 12 (divine authority) we have twenty-two, which represents light.
God created 22 things in the six days of creation. There are twenty-two books in the Aaronic (Levitical) Old Testament, which is the light of God for Israel. There are twenty-two generations from Adam to Jacob.
Appearances of Number Twenty-Two
The priestly tribe of Levi, when Moses raised up the tabernacle of God, totaled 22,000 (22 x 1,000) males who were one month old or older (Num. 3:39).
Light is used twenty-two times in the Gospel of John. The 22nd time John uses the word, he quotes Jesus: "I have come as a light into the world . . ." (John 12:46). Christians are to walk in the light of Christ (John 3:21), and be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14 - 15).
Book 22 written and included in the New Testament, in chronological order, is the book of 3John. John wrote this book to his friend and fellow elder Gaius.
Jair, one of the Judges of Israel, served for 22 years from 1079 to 1057 B.C.
Jesus, as recorded in the Bible, quoted from twenty-two Old Testament books.
Kings of Israel and Judah
Abijah, son of King Rehoboam and grandson of Solomon, assumed the throne over Judah in 913 B.C. During his life he married 14 wives and produced 22 sons and 16 daughters (2Chronicles 13:21). His reign only lasted three years until 910 B.C.
King Ahaziah of the Kingdom of Judah began his reign in 841 B.C. at the age of 22. He rules for only a few months, however, when his reign is cut short by the hands of Jehu (2Kings 9:27). Before his untimely demise he gives birth to Joash who will eventually sit on his throne.
Joash, who assumed the throne over the Kingdom of Judah at the tender age of 7 in 835 B.C. (see 2Kings 11), gave birth to Amaziah when he was 22 years old. Amaziah, when Joash finally dies in 796, assumes the throne.
King Ahab, consider the worst rulers over the Kingdom of Israel, also reigned for the same length of time (22 official but 21 actual years, 874 to 853 B.C.) as Jeroboam (the first king of the nation).
Amon, who ruled for only two years (642 to 640 B.C.) and is consider one of the worst kings over the Kingdom of Judah, began his rule at the age of twenty-two.
Manasseh, son of King Hezekiah, became co-ruler with his father over the Kingdom of Judah in 696 B.C. Ten years later, at the age of 22, he becomes the sole sovereign over Judah. Manasseh, however, unlike his righteous father, was an evil monarch. During his reign of wickedness he built pagan altars, including some within Jerusalem's temple, offered his son as a burnt sacrifice to a pagan deity and even worked with demonic spirits (2Kings 21)!
Number 22 and Jesus' Death
Around 3pm on Passover, just before dying for the sins of all mankind, Christ quoted from the first verse of Psalm 22 written by King David. The part of the Psalm he quoted, using likely a mix of the Hebrew and Syriac languages, was "Eloi, Eloi, (or Eli, Eli as found in Matthew 27:46) lama sabachthani?" (Mark 15:34).
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me, and why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not answer; and in the night season, and am not silent (verses 1 - 2 of Psalm 22, HBFV).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 22
Matthew 22 references six different Old Testament passages. The chapter refers to, in order, Deuteronomy 25:5, Exodus 3:6, Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Exodus 20:12 - 16 and Psalm 110:1.
In the Old Testament, the Biblical chapters of Genesis 6, 8, 28, 48, Exodus 1, 3, 13, Numbers 19, Deuteronomy 10, 16, 18, 24, Ruth 1, 4, 1Samuel 4, 8, 24, 2Samuel 21, 2Chronicles 4, 7, 13, Ezra 6, Esther 1, Job 1, 8, 10, 14, 16, 32, Psalm 25, 33, 34, 38, 103, Proverbs 2, Ecclesiastes 2, Isaiah 2, 8, 13, 36, 38, 48, 60, Jeremiah 8, 14, 27, 34, 42, Lamentations 1, 2, 4, 5 and Ezekiel 10 contain 22 verses in the King James translation.
In the New Testament, the chapters Ephesians 2, 2Timothy 4, 1Peter 3, 2Peter 2 and Revelation 3 have 22 verses in the KJV.
The books of 1Kings and Revelation contain 22 chapters in the KJV.
Although most modern translations list 39 books for the Old Testament, the number of originally inspired books finalized by Ezra the prophet and the Great Assembly is twenty-two. This number of canonized books or manuscripts corresponds to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.