Interpreting Biblical Numbers: A Rhetorical and Literary Guide

From the seven days of creation in Genesis 1 to the 1,000-year reign of the martyrs in Revelation 20, the Bible is filled with numbers.

Some numbers seem impossibly large, like the more than 600,000 Israelites who left Egypt in the exodus. Other numbers carry symbolic or theological weight, like the 12 tribes of Israel and Jesus's 12 close associates. Some spark curiosity, like the oddly specific 153 large fish Simon Peter hauled to shore. Some present a challenge, like Revelation 13's call to calculate the number of the beast--said to be 666. And other numbers seem mundane yet receive surprising emphasis, like the repetitive measurements and quantities associated with the tabernacle and temple.

Biblical authors used numbers in a variety of ways--to inform, measure, mark time, persuade, convince, and even inspire awe. In this up-to-date, scholarly, accessible resource, Denise C. Flanders shows how paying attention to the ancient historical and literary contexts where biblical numbers appear can deepen our understanding of Scripture. She corrects popular mystical approaches while highlighting the meaning and significance of biblical numbers, helping readers combat flawed interpretations common in the church.

This book equips students of the Bible with sound interpretive strategies and a robust understanding of the rhetorical and literary functions of numbers in ancient genres and in Scripture.Read less