THE NUMBER FORTY IN THE BIBLE.
We understand that the number seven in the Bible denotes fullness, or completion. But what about the number forty, used so often? as Moses's forty years in Egypt and in Midian; Israel's forty years in the wilderness, Moses's forty days on Sinai, Christ's fast of forty days, etc. Is there anything more than an ordinary occurrence about these numerous instances of the use of forty? Ans.—We think not. We know of no rule showing why the number seven should come to be regarded as it is. But by a sort of unquestioned acquiescence it has reached the numerical importance it has attained. But in regard to the number forty, it is perhaps a matter of some curiosity to find times and seasons so often measured by that number, but we know of no significance or importance that attaches thereto.