The Next Cycle of 40

Part 10 Section 6

2Sa 5:1   THEN all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. (family)

Tribe:

1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

a) rod, staff

b) shaft (of spear, dart)

c) club (of shepherd’s implement)

d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)

e) clan, tribe

Israel = “God prevails”

David = “beloved”

Hebron = “association”

2Sa 5:2   “Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’”

Saul or Shaul = “desired”

In other words…when we were ruled by our passions and desires, you led us…you brought us back to the Lord.

2Sa 5:3   Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.

2Sa 5:4   David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

2Sa 5:5   In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

It’s been awhile since I focused on this study, so for those who are just coming into this: the number forty here, represents the Spirit, and this means David’s rule was led by the Spirit for the entire time period, as forty is the number of the Spirit.

Judah = “praised”

So He reigned over praise for 7 years and six months.

Seven:

This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen 2:2,3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev 25:4; 1Sa 2:5; Psa 12:6; 79:12; Pro 26:16; Isa 4:1; Mat 18:21,22; Luk 17:4). The feast of Passover (Exd 12:15,16), the feast of Weeks (Deu 16:9), of Tabernacles (13:15), and the Jubilee (Lev 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2Ch 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Lev 4:6,17; 8:11,33; 14:9,51), of forgiveness (Mat 18:21,22; Luk 17:4), of reward (Deu 28:7; 1Sa 2:5), and of punishment (Lev 26:21,24,28; Deu 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Pro 26:16, 25; Isa 4:1; Mat 12:45. It is used also to mean “abundantly” (Gen 4:15,24; Lev 26:24; Psa 79:12).

There is clear evidence in the cuneiform texts, which are our earliest authorities, that the Babylonians regarded 7 as the number of totality, of completeness. The Sumerians, from whom the Semitic Babylonians seem to have borrowed the idea, equated 7 and “all.” The 7-storied towers of Babylonia represented the universe. Seven was the expression of the highest power, the greatest conceivable fullness of force, and therefore was early pressed into the service of religion.

Six:

whence Eng. prefix, hex—, is used separately from other numerals in Mat 17:1; Mar 9:2; Luk 4:25; 13:14; Jhn 2:6; 12:1; Act 11:12; 18:11; Jam 5:17; Rev 4:8. It sometimes suggests incompleteness, in comparison with the perfect number seven.

Jerusalem = “teaching of peace”

The Number Three:

The number three seems early to have attracted attention as the number in which beginning, middle and end are most distinctly marked, and to have been therefore regarded as symbolic of a complete and ordered whole.

In other words, 3 readily suggested completeness, and was often used with a glance at that meaning in daily life and daily speech.

The number 3 is also used in a literary way, sometimes appearing only in the structure. Note as examples the 3-fold benediction of Israel (Nu 6:24 ); the Thrice Holy of the seraphim (Isa 6:3); the 3-fold overturn (Eze 21:27 (Hebrew 32)); the 3-fold refrain of Psalms 42—43 regarded as one psalm (Ps 42:5,11; 43:5); the 3 names of God (the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, Jos 22:22; compare Ps 50:1); the 3 graces of 1Co 13; the 3 witnesses (1 #Joh 5:8); the frequent use of 3 and 3rd in Revelation; the description of God as “who is and who was and who is to come” (Re 1:4); and ‘the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’ (Mt 28:19).

I find it interesting that David the beloved ruled Jerusalem for thirty and three years, and Christ was thirty when he began his ministry and it lasted three years, and he came with a teaching of peace. It’s like a double confirmation of completeness, because there are two 3’s in this.

2Sa 5:6   And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

2Sa 5:7   Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

2Sa 5:8   Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

I’m looking at his methodology. In order to break the stronghold against a spirit of crippling blindness, it required a trial (or baptism) of water. It is reminiscent of Christ being the living water.

Water of Purification:

used in cases of ceremonial cleansings at the consecration of the Levites (Num 8:7). It signified, figuratively, that purifying of the heart which must characterize the servants of God.

(7) Washing with water held a considerable place in the Jewish temple-ceremony (Le 11:32; 16:4; 17:15; 22:6; Nu 19:7; Ex 30:18; 40:7). Sacrifices were washed (Ex 29:4; Le 1:9; 6:28; 14:5).

(8) The lack of water caused great suffering (Ex 15:22; De 8:15; 2Ki 3:9; Ps 63:1; Pr 9:17; Eze 4:11; La 5:4).

And this journey through water caused them to take the city, and it became the city of David.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

2Sa 5:9   Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo  and inward.

2Sa 5:10   So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.