Did you realise that the maximum number of “stripes” that were allowed for punishment was “forty

-Please Read this FIRST- On this site we prefer to use the actual Name of our loving Heavenly Father as it was written in the Word, and thus you will note that we will use the Four Letter “Memorial Name” of - YHVH, which is pronounced as YaHVaH or YaHWaH. In addition we will also use our Heavenly Father’s attribute/title, which is Elohim rather than “God,” which sadly is the name of a pagan god. In addition we also love to use the actual and real Name of our beloved Messiah which is - Yahushua or Yahshua in short, for this is our Saviours original Hebrew Name as given to Him at birth in Lukas - Luke 1:31. This was the only Name ever used when He was on the earth by His family, disciples and His followers OVER THE centuries, even until today! However, it was changed to a foreign name by the founder of the new “pagan church of Rome.” Occasionally, we may also use other Hebrew or Greek names as well as different words in our studies for certain common words used are from pagan backgrounds and thus are not suitable. All names will be translated when they are FIRST used in a study or at various times as needed for clarity. There is a full explanation of YHVH’s blessed “Memorial Name” as well as the wonderful blessed Name of our Messiah and Saviour, thus please read … “The Memorial Name.”

Lessons in the Wilderness

The Number “40” / “40 Years”

And the Term “Generation” in the Scriptures

“And the Children of Israel ate manna FORTY YEARS, until they came to an inhabited land;

they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.”

Shemos - Exodus 16:35.

On this page we are going to look at a number of examples when the number 40 is used in the blessed Word of YHVH Elohim (the LORD God) and you will discover it is not just discovered in the Tanach, which is Hebrew for the Old Covenant but also in the Brit Chadashah being Hebrew for the New Covenant. But more so the meaning related to this number and the implication related to the word a “Generation” for both are closely related!

Introduction:

There is no doubt that the Number “Forty – 40” as we will have noted in Study One and Study Two holds particular and a powerful significance in the blessed Word of Elohim and it refers to a very precise number and not just a long period of time.

There are many instances in the Tanach - the Old Covenant as well as the Brit Chadashah, the New Covenant where the number 40 occurs either in “years” - “days,” e.g. “it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.” - “Moshe was on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights.” - “the Israelites wandered 40 years.” - Yahushua fasted in the wilderness for 40 days,” and also as follows;

“He (Yahushua) also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them (the Apostles) during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of Elohim.” Acts 1:3.

For mankind, a “40” time period, whether it is “days,” “months,” or “years” tends to refer to a period of testing, trial, probation, or chastisement (but not judgment) and it will end with a period of restoration, revival or renewal, blessed be His Sanctified Name!

Thankfully, Elohim is consistent, therefore the meaning of this number in Bereshis - Genesis remains the same all the way through to the book of Revelation. Sometimes the spiritual significance may not be revealed immediately, but in the case of “40” and its countless examples throughout the blessed Scriptures we can be certain of its great importance and its powerful significance!

The Meaning of the Number 40:

Did you realise that the number 40 is mentioned a least 146 times in the blessed Scriptures? The number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or even probation. During Moshe’s - Moses’ life as we have learned in “Lessons in the Wilderness,” he lived for forty years in Egypt in great wealth as a Prince, thereafter he lived for forty years in the desert as a lowly humble and a greatly despised shepherd by the Egyptians. That was until YaHVaH Elohim called him up the mount and charged him to go and stand before the mighty Pharaoh in order to call Elohim’s people out of slavery. Whilst in the wilderness, we know that Moshe went up on Mount Sinai and he was there for 40 days and 40 nights for two separate occasions (Shemos - Exodus 24:18, 34:1 to 28), and he received the commandments from YaHVaH Elohim.

Later when the Children of Israel had finally arrived at Kadesh Barnea Moshe sent his spies to inspect the land Elohim had promised the Children of Israel as an inheritance and when they returned having been away for forty days (Numbers 13:25 and 14:34). However, we must not forget that Israel has already wandered through the wilderness for a long “40 years,” and we know that the Word also states that this was a “Generation!” Therefore it is becoming obvious there is a reason for both the number “40” and a “Generation!”

In the book of Hebrews we read of the sad failure of the Children of Israel at large whilst in the wilderness;

“Therefore, as the Sanctified Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said,’ ‘they always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’” Hebrews 3:7-10.

The prophet Jonah powerfully warned ancient Nineveh, for forty days, that its destruction would come because of its many sins (Yonah - Jonah 3:4). The prophet Yechehel - Ezekiel laid on His right side for 40 days to symbolize Judah’s sins (Yechehel - Ezekiel 4:6). We know from the Scriptures that our blessed Master Yahushua was tempted by HaSatan, Satan not just three times, but many times during the 40 days and 40 nights that He fasted just prior to commencing His ministry. He also appeared to His disciples and others for 40 days after His Resurrection from the dead!

Thus beloved, it is rather obvious as we will have seen in the blessed Word of Elohim that the number “forty” - 40, also represents a “Generation” of people or man. Due to the sins after leaving Egypt, YaHVaH Elohim swore that the generation of the Children of Israel who departed Egypt and came out of Egyptian bondage would never be allowed to enter their inheritance in the
Land.

“Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.” Davarim - Deuteronomy 1:39-40.

Thus the Children of Israel were punished by wandering the wilderness for 40 Years before the new Generation was permitted to possess the Promised Land. Yahushua, just several days before He was placed on that Stake where He Shed His Blood and gave His Life, prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem (Mattityahu - Matthew 24:1-2, Markus - Mark 13:1-2). Then Forty years after our Saviour’s Death and Resurrection, in 30 A.D., the mighty Roman Empire was destroyed but they had already burned and destroyed Jerusalem and Israel’s beloved Temple down to the ground!

Appearances of the number forty:

The book of Shemos - Exodus, with its 40 chapters and 1,213 verses, is the seventh longest book. The longest being Tehillim - Psalms.

From the time Israel entered the Promised Land, to the time of King Shaul - Saul, Israel was sporadically governed by various individuals known as the Shoftim or the Judges. Although the Shoftim did not rule like kings, yet they had a large amount of power and influence on the people, for they represented Elohim and they were inspired to execute His will.

A good number of Shoftim served for 40 years including Othniel, Eli and Gideon and others.

The first three Kings that ruled over the children of Israel were, Shaul - Saul, Dovid - David and Shlomo - Solomon, and each ruled for forty years (1050 to 930 B.C.).

After the Kingdom split into two separate Kingdoms’, King Yo’ash - Joash served forty years as one of Judah’s better Kings.

Avraham attempted to bargain with Elohim NOT to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if He could locate forty righteous people in the city (Bereshis - Genesis 18:29).

Both Yitzchak - Isaac and Esau - Esau were forty years old when they were first married (Bereshis - Genesis 25:20, 26:34).

Elohim flooded the earth by having it rain for forty days and nights (Bereshis - Genesis 7:12).

After the patriarch Ya’akov - Jacob died in Egypt; the Egyptians spent forty days embalming his body (Bereshis - Genesis 50:3).

How does the number 40 relate to humility?

God allowed the ancient Israelites, from time to time, to be harassed and dominated by certain enemies in order to chastise and humble them for their sins. The Philistine's, in the southern and western parts of Israel's land, harassed them from 1105 to 1065 B.C. God's resolution to the harassment was Samson (see Shoftim - Judges 13:1, 1 Shmuel - 1 Samuel 7:13, 15 - 17).

Additional information on the Biblical Meaning of 40:

The Blessed Scriptures were written by “forty - 40” different chosen people of Elohim. Those who are called by Elohim today are under probation, or judgment, and their lives are based on how they live according to every word of Elohim, for so sadly many have forgotten His ways!.

Did you realise that the maximum number of “stripes” that were allowed for punishment was “forty.” “Stripes” had to do with judgment, and that included Elohim’s judgement. See Lukas - Luke 12:47-48. When Elohim brings judgment upon His people, it may be rightly termed, “stripes.” When Shime’on - Peter states (about Yahushua) “by whose stripes you were healed” in 1 Shime’on – 1 Peter 2:24, he is quoting from Yeshayahu - Isaiah 53:5, which is a prophecy concerning spiritual and not physical healing as many teach. Although physical healing from Elohim is a wonderful blessing, spiritual healing is by far a greater blessing. Our salvation is dependent on the fact that Yahushua bore the stripes that you and I deserve to bear. In other words, Yahushua bore the full force of all the judgments that should have come upon us as sinners. Yeshayahu - Isaiah’s prophecy shows the judgments of Elohim that was poured upon our Saviour Yahushua in order that we might be saved!

However, we can easily discover from Bamidbar or the Book of Numbers 32:13 and Hebrews 3:9-10 that Elohim clearly calls “40 years” - a “generation.”

The book of Mattityahu - Matthew 1:17 makes it clear to us; that from captivity in Babylon (586 BC) until the time of our beloved Messiah is 14 generations.

“So all the generations from Avraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until Messiah are fourteen generations.” Mattityahu - Matthew 1:17.

This will help us in studying the meaning of Yahushua’s Words in Mattityahu - Matthew 23:36;24:34, Markus - Mark 13:30 and Lukas - Luke 21:32.

Here is a partial listing of the number “40” in the Scriptures, but there is so much more:

1. The rains (in Noah's day) fell for 40 days and nights (Bereshis - Genesis 7:4).

2. Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Shemos - Exodus 16:35).

3. Moses was with Elohim in the mount, 40 days and nights (Shemos - Exodus 24:18).

4. Moses was again with Elohim 40 days and 40 nights (Shemos - Exodus 34:28).

5. Moses led Israel from Egypt aged 80 (2 times 40). After 40 years in the wilderness, he died at 120 (3 times 40) (Davarim - Deuteronomy 34:7).

6. The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Bamidbar - Numbers 13:25).

7. Therefore, Elohim made Israel wander for 40 years (Bamidbar - Numbers 14:33-34).

8. 40 stripes was the maximum whipping penalty (Davarim - Deuteronomy 25:3).

9. Elohim allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Shoftim - Judges 3:11).

10. Elohim again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Shoftim - Judges 5:31).

11. Elohim again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Shoftim - Judges 8:28).

12. Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Shoftim - Judges 12:14).

13. Israel did evil; Elohim gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Shoftim - Judges 13:1).

14. Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Shmuel - 1 Samuel 4:18).

15. Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Shmuel - 1 Samuel 17:16).

16. Saul reigned for 40 years (Acts 13:21).

17. Ishbosheth (Saul's son) was 40 when he began reign (2 Shmuel - 2 Samuel 2:10).

18. David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Melachim - 1 Kings 2:11).

19. The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Melachim - 1 Kings 6:17).

20. 40 baths (measurement) was size of lavers in Temple (1 Melachim - 1 Kings 7:38).

21. The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Shemos - Exodus 26:19 & 21).

22. Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Melachim - 1 Kings 11:42).

23. Elijah had one meal that gave him strength 40 days (1 Melachim - 1 Kings 19:8).

24. Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days (Yehechel - Ezekiel 4:6).

25. Jehoash - Joash reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Melachim - 2 Kings 12:1).

26. Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Yehechel - Ezekiel 29:11-12).

27. Ezekiel's (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Yehechel - Ezekiel 41:2).

28. The courts in Ezekiel's temple were 40 cubits long (Ezira - Ezra 46:22).

29. Elohim gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Yonah - Jonah 3:4).

30. Yahushua fasted 40 days and nights (Mattityahu - Matthew 4:2).

31. Yahushua was tempted 40 days (Lukas - Luke 4:2, Markus - Mark 1:13).

32. Yahushua remained on earth 40 days after resurrection (Acts 1:3).

33. Women are pregnant for 40 weeks (time of testing).

A Challenge!

I pray beloved that we have learned a great deal from these three pages, but most of all, ask yourself, where am I at this moment in the Father, and Am I obeying the Words that Yahushua spoke, for He did say that we had to uphold the Ten Commandments and that did include the law that goes back to Creation, the keeping of the Seventh Day Sabbath! We need to remember that Sunday is the day pagans worship the sun god, just like easter and christmas! Jesus is also a name related directly to that pagan god Zeus, thus you choose who you really wish to worship, the god of the Roman created church, or the Creator of heaven and Earth whose Name is YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified His Name, who sent the blessed Messiah whose Name is Yahushua!

I will conclude with one of the most beautiful and telling Scriptures!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Yochanan - John 1:1-4.

Lessons in the Wilderness - Part One

Lessons in the Wilderness - Part Two

Forty Days ~ Years List - Part Three - This Page

Also read - The Shemos – Exodus Series

The Waters of Meribah

Bamidbar - Numbers Chapter 20

Echad - ONE - Deut 6:4 - Study

“Hear O Israel, YHVH Elohim, YHVH is ONE”

Shalom In Yahushua THE ONE and ONLY Messiah!

“Teach me Your way, O YHVH. I will walk in Your truth.
UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME!”

Tehillim - Psalms 86:11

May YHVH Elohim bless and keep you in the palm of His hand always, in Messiah Yahushua’s loving Name!

The RETURN Movement name was founded in 1978.

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Quotations are derived from various versions of the Word
including KJV/NKJ/NIV/Hebrew/Greek translations by the Webmaster, and Messianic versions.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright his studies, but there have been occasions where there parts

of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context under his name, and thus he has been misquoted by

those who had their own reasons for doing so. Thus, it is only for this reason these works