The-Number-40
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אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having
been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic
Text”.
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments
of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
Remember We are Never Alone!
Davarim - Deuteronomy Chapter 31, verse 6.
JPS-1917
version of the Torah.
חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ, אַל-תִּירְאוּ וְאַל-תַּעַרְצוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם: כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הוּא הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּךְ-לֹא יַרְפְּךָ, וְלֹא יַעַזְבֶךָּ
“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheycha (God), He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee’”.
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
This study examines the details of the number “40” across the Torah/Tanakh using the JPS-1917 version as the textual base, and I will be tracing its ‘theological literacy’, ‘ritual patterns’ and offering a guided discussion, and its application.’
Let us view the listing of
the Number “40” as is shown in the Tanakh:
A. From Noach
to Moshe:
1. The rains during Noach’s great flood, rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights. Bereshis - Genesis 7:4.
2. Moshe - Moses lives in a Royal Palace as a prince for 40 years and then he was banished.
3. Then Moshe lived in the dessert as a shepherd for 40 years, until called by YHVH on Mt Sinai aged 80.
4. Moshe led Israel from Egypt aged 80. Thus double 40 years.
5. Moshe - Moses was with Elohim on the mount for 40 days and 40 nights. Shemos - Exodus 24:18.
6. After 40 years leading Israel in the wilderness, he died aged 120 (3 times 40). Davarim - Deuteronomy 34:7.
7. The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days. Bamidbar - Numbers 13:25.
8. Thus, Elohim made Israel wander for 40 years. Bamidbar - Numbers 14:33-34.
B. Other events and times related to “40”:
9. The maximum penalty of
punishment was 40 stripes with the whip. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 25:3.
10. Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days. 1 Shmuel - 1 Samuel 17:16.
11. King Shaul reigned for 40 years. Acts 13:21.
12. King Dovid - David reigned over Israel for 40 years. 2 Shmeul - 2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Melachim - 1 Kings 2:11.
13. King Shlomo - Solomon reigned like his father for 40 years. 1 Melachim - 1 Kings 11:42.
14. Eliyahu - Elijah the prophet had one meal that gave him strength for 40 days. 1 Melachim - 1 Kings 19:8.
15. King Jehoash - Joash reigned for 40 years in Jerusalem. 2 Melachim - 2 Kings 12:1.
16. Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years. Yehechel - Ezekiel 29:11-12.
17. Yehechel – Ezekiel’s prophetic temple is 40 cubits long. Yehechel - Ezekiel 41:2.
18. The courts in his temple were 40 cubits long. Yehechel - Ezekiel 46:22.
19. Elohim
gave Nineveh 40 days to repent. Yonah -
Jonah 3:4.
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Let us look at some of the core readings:
1 - Flood and Foundations: Genesis 7:4 (Noach: 40 days and nights).
2 - Moses: 40 as life‑stage and testing: Exodus 24:18 (Moses on the mount 40 days) and the biographical notes about Moses’ 40/40 life stages and 120 years (Deuteronomy context).
3 - Wandering and Spying: Numbers 13:25; Numbers 14:33–34 (spies 40 days; 40 years wandering).
4 - Kings, Reigns, and Discipline: Deuteronomy 25:3 (forty stripes); 1 Samuel 17:16 (Goliath 40 days); reigns of Saul, David, Solomon, Jehoash (Acts 13:21; 2 Samuel 5; 1 Kings 2; 1 Kings 11; 2 Kings 12).
5 - Prophets and Repentance: 1 Kings 19:8 (Elijah’s 40 day strength); Jonah 3:4 (Nineveh given 40 days).
6 - Ezekiel’s Temple and Symbolic Measures: Ezekiel’s prophetic measurements and judgments (Ezekiel 29; 41; 46) and discussion of symbolic cubits/forty in prophetic architecture and judgment.
Format and pedagogy (practice of teaching):
What
does “40” signal in each context, ‘judgment’, ‘testing’, ‘preparation’, or
‘legitimacy?’
We
could ask, how does the JPS-1917 wording shape
theological nuance compared with other translations?
Are
there patterns linking prophetic warnings (Jonah, Ezekiel) with historical
narratives (Moses, kings)?
In Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that the investigated intervention
significantly influences the target outcome, providing clear evidence that the
proposed mechanism is viable. The findings bridge a gap in the literature by
confirming theoretical predictions and offering empirical support for practical
application.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following through several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be
a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
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(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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