Comments on: Is Forty Figurative? http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/is-forty-figurative Rants and musings about things political, philosophical, and religious. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:51:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: fontor http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/is-forty-figurative#comment-1914 fontor Thu, 02 Nov 2006 03:35:48 +0000 http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/is-forty-figurative#comment-1914 The <i><a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/pub/views/home.html" rel="nofollow">Oxford Companion to the Bible</a></i> says that forty is intended literally, unlike seventy. It's behind a paywall, sorry, so I'll paste. "Forty days was a strictly limited period of time (for six, not seven, weeks?; Gen. 7.4; Exod. 24.18; 1 Sam. 17.16; Jon. 3.4; Matt. 4.2; Mark 1.13; Luke 4.2; Acts 1.3). Forty years was the length of one generation (Exod. 16.35; Num. 14.33; 32.13; Ezek. 4.6; 29.11). It was regarded as significant if a king reigned for this number of years (2 Sam. 5.4; 1 Kings 11.42). Seventy meant a comprehensive number, and should not normally be taken literally." A little sketchy, but it seems to lean away from the figurative reading. Anyway, what's implausible about Moses fasting for 40 days? Nothing is impossible with God. Just have faith. The Oxford Companion to the Bible says that forty is intended literally, unlike seventy.

It’s behind a paywall, sorry, so I’ll paste.

“Forty days was a strictly limited period of time (for six, not seven, weeks?; Gen. 7.4; Exod. 24.18; 1 Sam. 17.16; Jon. 3.4; Matt. 4.2; Mark 1.13; Luke 4.2; Acts 1.3). Forty years was the length of one generation (Exod. 16.35; Num. 14.33; 32.13; Ezek. 4.6; 29.11). It was regarded as significant if a king reigned for this number of years (2 Sam. 5.4; 1 Kings 11.42).

Seventy meant a comprehensive number, and should not normally be taken literally.”

A little sketchy, but it seems to lean away from the figurative reading.

Anyway, what’s implausible about Moses fasting for 40 days? Nothing is impossible with God. Just have faith.

]]> By: John Anderson http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/is-forty-figurative#comment-1870 John Anderson Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:19:23 +0000 http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/is-forty-figurative#comment-1870 Seven is a number that represents completion and wholeness (because of it's reference to the creative periods) in ancient scripture. So seven sevens (which is pretty close to forty, I guess) would probably emphasize that completeness or wholeness. Same thing with seventy times seven. Seven is a number that represents completion and wholeness (because of it’s reference to the creative periods) in ancient scripture. So seven sevens (which is pretty close to forty, I guess) would probably emphasize that completeness or wholeness.

Same thing with seventy times seven.

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