Meaning of Numbers in the Bible
The Number 400

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The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 400

The number 400, which is arrived at by multiplying 8 by 50, derives its meaning in Scripture by being a divinely perfect period.

God, after making a covenant with Abraham, revealed to him that his descendants would be afflicted in a foreign land for 400 years. The Eternal, after this period, promised to bring them back into the land of Canaan.

"You must surely know that your seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, (and shall serve them and they shall afflict them) four hundred (400) years. And also I will judge that nation whom they shall serve. And afterward they shall come out with great substance . . . But in the fourth generation they shall come here again" (Genesis 15:13 - 14, 16, HBFV).

The count of 400 years, also referenced in Acts 7:6, began with the confirmation of the covenant to Abraham's seed through Isaac (Genesis 22). This event took place in 1845 B.C. Four hundred years late, in 1445, the Israelites are freed from Egyptian bondage.

David, fleeing the wrath of King Saul, ends up in a cave near Adullam. As he resides there, four hundred men gather with him in support (1Samuel 22:1 - 2).

One day David sends ten of his young men to a wealthy man named Nabal in order to request food. Nabal rudely responds to David's request and sends the young men away empty handed. David's response is to gather four hundred of his fighting men in order to attack and destroy Nabal and all the males who serve him. Abigail, Nabal's wife, learns of her husband's folly and is able to turn away David's wrath (1Samuel 25).

Persian King Cyrus allows captive Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple destroyed by the Babylonians. According to the Bible, after God's temple is rebuilt, it is rededicated with an offering of 400 lambs and a number of other beasts (Ezra 6).

Appearances of the number four hundred

Abraham's wife Sarah is the only woman in Scripture where her age at death is stated (Genesis 23:1). When she dies at age 127 Abraham buys a cave in Machpelah (Hebron) for four hundred shekels of silver (verses 3 - 20). He then uses the cave as a burial location for his beloved wife.

Elijah openly challenged 450 false prophets of Baal, and Jezebel's 400 false prophets "of the groves" to meet him at Mount Carmel. The purpose of the meeting is to determine whom Israel should worship. The prophets of Baal accept his challenge but Jezebel's prophets do not. Those who served Baal are ultimately slaughtered after God miraculously consumes, through fire, the offering of Elijah (1Kings 18).

Conflict, resolution and the number 400

Four hundred thousand (400 x 1,000) Israelites show up at Mizpeh upon hearing of a vile crime committed by some men whom the tribe of Benjamin refuses to release for punishment (Judges 19, 20).

 

The tribe of Benjamin ultimately pays dearly for their foolish decision, with almost all their fighting men, including most of the people living in their territory, put to death. A lone holdout of 600 Benjamite men are offered 400 virgins as wives so that the tribe might not die out (Judges 21:12 - 14). The turmoil finally ends when another 200 females are made available to the surviving Benjamites.

Jacob was not nice to his brother Esau. He took advantage of Esau's hunger and used it to buy his birthright blessings (Genesis 25). Later, conspiring with his mother Rebekah, he tricked Isaac into thinking he was Esau so that he could receive the blessings of the firstborn (Genesis 27). Jacob, after discovering Esau plans to kill him, flees to Haran.

Jacob and his growing family, roughly twenty years later, begin their journey back to Canaan. He soon finds out that Esau and 400 men are coming toward him (Genesis 32:6). He divides his clan into two large groups and prepares to offer Esau a large present. After wrestling with a stranger all night (Genesis 32:24 - 32) God grants him favor in his brother's eyes and his life is spared.

More Info on Biblical Meaning of 400

Well known Rabbi Gamaliel councils the Jewish Sanhedrin to leave the apostles alone and do not punish them for their teachings. He wisely advises that if what they do is not of God, like the 400 men who supported a man named Theudas, their efforts will soon die out. If, however, God is inspiring what the apostles say and do, the leaders won't be able to stop it. The religious leaders only partially follow Gamaliel's advice, as they command the disciples be beaten with a number of stripes (Acts 5).

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Biblical Meaning of Numbers
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Prophecy Numbers   -   Numerology
Creation's Numerics   -   Further Study

Series References
Number in Scripture: Its Supernatural
Design and Spiritual Significance

Some information on the
meaning of the number 400 derived from
Holy Bible Faithful Version (HBFV)



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