David,
As one who is particularly interested in scriptural numerics I would like to respond to your statement, "Thus, I would be very hesitant to base a firm conclusion on the numbers from lists in the OT."
There happen to be some interesting coincidences between certain OT statistics and three numbers that appear (in similar circumstances) as 'surface features' in the NT. Thus, a consideration of the genealogical data of Gen 5 leads to the conclusion, (a) that the Deluge began in 1656 anno mundi - its duration, a little over a year - and, (b) that Methuselah
- the longest-lived of the patriarchs - died in that same year, aged 969 years.
The numbers 969 and 1657 (beginning of the Post-diluvian era, anno mundi) each have an absolute geometrical presence, thus:
* 969 uniform spheres may be arranged as a tetrahedral stack comprising 17 triangular layers - a base layer of 153 (17th triangular number), followed by 136 (16th triangular number), 120 (15th triangular number), and so on, ending with 1 (1st triangular number) as apex. Observe that each of the 4 faces of this simple Platonic solid is an equilateral triangle comprising 153 spheres.
* 1657 uniform spheres may be arranged on a flat surface to form a symmetrical hexagon of dimension 24. This figure resolves into 6 congruent equilateral triangles - each of 276 (23rd triangular number) spheres arranged symmetrically around a single sphere as centroid. Observe that without this central unit the figure comprises precisely 1656 (year of Flood) spheres.
Clearly, the triangular numbers 153 and 276 are prominent components of the two numbers that point to the mabbul.
Now these two numbers feature in the NT - the first in Jn.21:11, and the second in Acts 27:37. Each (like the occupants of the Ark) is associated with the theme, "out of the sea"; further, each (again, like the occupants of the Ark) is linked with the theme, "none were lost" (Jn.21:11, Acts 27:44).
But there are two further coincidences that are worthy of mention:
* The number 1260 crops up in unusual circumstances in the Book of Revelation (Rev.12:6). It refers to a harrowing period of time in days. However, intriguingly, the same period is also given as 42 months (Rev.13:5) and 3-and-a-half years (Rev.12:14), respectively. Clearly, the day following this period - the 'day of release' - will be the 1261th - and 1261 happens to be the 21st hexagon (which, without its centroid counter, is 1260). This situation is therefore a precise analogue of that mentioned earlier in connection with the Flood. Indeed, Rev.12:15-16 also makes reference to an attempted destruction by water.
* We have observed that Methuselah's age has the form of a tetrahedron - the 17th - having triangular faces, each of 153. What then of a tetrahedron having faces each equal to 276 (23rd triangular number)? This tetrahedron - the 23rd - has the value 2300. This happens to be the sum of the first three and the last three Hebrew words of Genesis 1:1 - the omitted central word comprising the first and last letters of the alphabet. As already intimated, this first verse of the Scriptures is triangular (the 73rd) with the 37th triangle inset within a trio of triangles, each of value 666.
I believe it would be unwise to write off such matters as meaningless coincidences, for these are not isolated examples, but rather particular attributes of a much larger, tightly-knit, structure which speaks eloquently of supernatural design. It would therefore appear that the list of Gen.5 is thereby largely confirmed.
Sincerely,
Vernon
Notes: the formulae for the numerical geometries quoted are as follows:
Triangle (T): T(n) = n.(n+1) / 2
Hexagon (X): X(n) = 6.T(n-1) + 1
Tetrahedron (Q): Q(n) = n.(n+1).(n+2) / 6
Where n is the 'order' of the figure, ie the number of counters forming a side.
Observe that the first member of each series = 1.
bivalve wrote:
> Numbers appear to have been particularly difficult to copy accurately. When we have more than one version of a census list, or related numbers such as a total or percentage, discrepancies are often apparent. The different ages given for antediluvian patriarchs in the Samaritan, LXX, and Masoretic texts is one example; another is the repeat of censuses in Ezra, Nehemiah, and I Ezdras. Although the names seem equally tedious to the average Western reader, they show much less variation. Jan has noted the possibility of symbolic interpretation of some numbers and confusion between use of the same word as thousand or clan, in addition to copying problems. Thus, I would be very hesitant to base a firm conclusion on the numbers from lists in the OT. Furthermore, I cannot think of any theologically significant issue that they address. I certainly find it interesting to try to figure out the chronology, and think it is a worthwhile endeavor, but I do not know that it really ma!
> tters when Adam existed.
>
> Dr. David Campbell
> Old Seashells
> University of Alabama
> Biodiversity & Systematics
> Dept. Biological Sciences
> Box 870345
> Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
> bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
>
> That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa
>
>
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