The Number 40

I was quite amazed to discover the symbolic use of numbers in the Bible. The number 40 is an interesting example as it seems to symbolize a time of trial and testing:

• for 40 days the earth flooded (Gen 7:17)
• after 40 days Noah sent out a raven (Gen 8:6)
• the Israelites ate manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35)
• Moses stayed on Mount Sinai 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18)
• Caleb was 40 years old when he and the Israelites explored Canaan for 40 days, and then wandered the desert 40 years (Joshua 14:7, Numbers 14:34)
• the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years (Judges 13:1)
• Goliath came forward morning and evening for 40 days (1 Sam 17:16)
• Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel for 40 years (2 Sam 15:6-7)
• Elijah spends 40 days and 40 nights fleeing to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
• Ezekiels prophesy: Egypt will lie desolate 40 years (Ezekiel 29:12)
• Jonah proclaimed, "40 more days and Ninevah will be destroyed" (Jonah 3:4)
• Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness (Matt 4:2)

The number 40 is also prevalent in other places, possibly portraying a time of completeness:

• Saul, David and Solomon all reigned 40 years (Acts 13:21, 2 Sam 5:4, 2 chron 9:40)
• Joash, a good king, also reigned 40 years (2 kings 12:1)
• the phrase "the land had rest 40 years" is repeated 3 times in Judges (3:11,5:31,8:28)
• Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3)

Luke also divides Moses' life into 40 year periods. Moses lived in Pharoahs house 40 years until he kills an Egyptian, he then flees to Midian where he spends the next 40 years until he encounters the burning bush, he then spends the last 40 years leading the Israelites until his death at 120 years old. (Acts 7:23,30, Deut 34:7)

Clearly something is going on with this number. I'm hardpressed to believe that 40 is just a numerical value in these cases.

Finally, one last obvious example of the symbolic use of numbers in the Bible:

"Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water". Exodus 15:27

If we take this verse literally, they simply came to a place with 12 springs and 70 palm trees(with someone actually counting them), taken symbolically, they arrived at the perfect spot, a place ideal for their needs.