The Number Seven by T. L. Waters

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 22, 1857

The Number Seven.

By T. L. Waters

THE number seven, so often mentioned in the sacred Scriptures, has always had a kind of emphasis attached to it. It is by some called the number of perfection, being composed of the first two perfect numbers, equal and unequal, 3 and 4, (for the number two, consisting of repeated unity, which is no number, is not perfect.)

In six days creation was perfected—the seventh was consecrated to rest. If Cain be avenged seven fold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold. Noah had seven days' warning of the flood, and was commanded to take the fowls of the air into the ark by sevens, and the clean beasts by sevens. The ark touched the ground on the seventh month, and in seven days a dove was sent, and again in seven days after. Abraham pleaded seven times for Sodom. He gave seven ewe lambs to Abimelech for a well of water. Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and also another seven years for Leah. Joseph mourned seven days for Jacob. Laban pursued after Jacob seven days journey. The seven years of plenty, and the seven years of famine, were foretold in pharaoh's dream by the seven fat, and the seven lean beasts, and the seven ears of full, and the seven ears of blasted corn. The children of Israel were to eat unleavened bread seven days. The young of animals were to remain with the dam seven days and on the seventh to be taken away. By the Mosaic law a man was commanded to forgive seven times; but the meekness of our Saviour extended this forbearance to seventy times seven. On the seventh day of the seventh month a holy observance was commanded to the children of Israel, who fasted seven days in tents. Every seventh year was directed to be a year of rest for all things, and at the end of

seven times seven years, commenced the jubilee. They were to observe a feast seven days after they had gathered in their corn and wine, seven days they were to keep a solemn feast as they had been blest in the work of their hands. Every seven years the land lay fallow. Every seven years there was a general release from all debts, and all bondsmen were set free.

From this custom may have sprung the custom of binding young men to seven years apprenticeship. Every seventh year the law was directed to be read to the people; if they were obedient, their enemies were to flee before them seven years; if disobedient their enemies were to chase them seven ways. In the destruction of Jericho, seven priests bore trumpets seven days; on the seventh they went round the wall seven times, and after the seventh time the walls fell. Hannah the mother of Samuel, in her thanks, says, that the barren hath brought forth seventy-seven, as some Jewish writers say that his name answers to the value of the letters in the Hebrew word which signify seven. Seven of Saul's sons were hanged to stay a famine. Jesse had seven sons, the youngest of whom ascended the throne of Israel. The number of their animals in sundry of their obligations was limited to seven. Solomon was seven years building the temple, at the dedication of which he feasted seven days. In the tabernacle were seven lamps. The golden candlesticks had seven branches. Seven days were appointed for an atonement on the altar, and the priest's son was appointed to wear his father's garments seven days. Naaman was commanded to wash in Jordan seven times, to cure his leprosy. Gehazi was commanded to look towards the sea seven times, and the seventh time he saw the wished-for cloud. The Shunamite's child sneezed seven times before life was fully restored. In the seventh year of his reign king Ahasuerus feasted seven days, and on the seventh directed his chamberlains to find a queen who was allowed seven maidens to attend her. Job's friends sat with him seven days and seven nights, and offered seven bullocks and seven rams as an atonement for their wickedness. David prayed that the wicked might be rewarded seven-fold in their doom. Solomon says that the fool is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason; and that when the wicked speaketh fair, there are seven abominations in his heart. Nebuchadnezzar was seven years a beast, and at the end of seven years his kingdom was restored. The fiery furnace was heated seven times hotter to receive Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The Scriptures are illustrated by seven resurrections: viz., the widow's son by Elijah, the Shunamite's son by Elisha, the soldier when he touched the bones of Elisha, the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, the son of the widow of Nain, Lazarus and the Saviour. Enoch who was translated was the seventh from Adam, and Jesus Christ the seventy-seventh in a direct line. The Saviour spoke seven times from the cross, on which he remained seven hours. He appeared seven times afterwards. In seven times seven days he sent the gift of the Holy Ghost. In the Lord's prayer are seven petitions contained in seven times seven words. In Revelation we read of seven churches, seven candlesticks, seven spirits, seven stars, seven trumpets, seven plagues, seven thunders, seven vials, and seven angels to pour them on those who worship this seven-headed beast, and also his image.