42 years, 42 stations, 42 months, 42 chapters
The Jews spent more than 40 years in the wilderness; they spent a total of 42 years.
In the New Testament, you read
"And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness."
Acts 13:18
It reads "about the time", that is, "around" forty years.
How do you get 42?
Well the calculation of the 40 years starts only after the episode at Kadeshbarnea where the Jews were on the verge of entering Canaan's land.
Let's follow how time is elapsing from Sinia to Kadeshbarnea.
(As usual, these posts are verse-intensive. The verses are not there for sheer confirmation, they are the very substance of the argument in their content and layout. So if you skim the verses you're skimming the argument.)
Look at Numbers 9:1-2
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.
You see here that at the start of the second year, the Jews were still in the wilderness of Sinai, very much south of the land of Canaan, where they were to keep the passover.
The next chapter Numbers 10:11-12
And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
They leave the wilderness of Sinai 20 days into the second month of the second year.
Numbers 10:33
And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
Now we're 23 days into the second month of the second year. (Remember, a Jewish month has 30 days, not 31)
Numbers 11:1-3 18-20, 31-32
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
I quote this only to note that some time has elapsed, though we're not told how many days.
Numbers 11:4, 18-20, 31-32
And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.
Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;
But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
The people are stuck gathering and eating quails for a whole month, so now we're at least into the end of third month of the second year.
After that comes the episode of Aaron and Miriam's rebellion, and the latter's leprosy
Numbers 12:14-26
And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
Add that week and you're into the 4th month of the second year.
Now you'll remember the wilderness of Paran from Numbers 10:12 which I've already quoted
And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.
So what you've had so far from Sinai to Paran are "journeyS", plural. The cloud "rested" there and they "pitched" there. Back in Numbers 9:21-22 you read
And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
So beside the elapsed days we were actually able to calculate up to that point, the Jews have had many journeyings interrupted by possibly long halts on their way North from Sinai to the land of Canaan.
So here they are now, in Numbers 12, pitched in the wilderness of Paran, at the threshold of Canaan.
Numbers 13:1-3,25
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
Add another 40 days unto the second year. By now we're half-way into the second year. That's about 6 months that we were able to track, it's important to keep that in mind, for as we have seen, there were many journeyings and rests.
It is from this point, that the 40 year countdown is about to begin!
Let's see why/how
Numbers 13:32-33 (follow carefully)
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
14:1-3
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
14:26
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
14:33-35
And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, (starting from this point) and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
The Lord God made the Jews turn back from Kadeshbarnea (Numbers 32:8), where they were at the very entrance of Canaan, and made them wander 40 years till all the parents died.
You thus end up with 2 years from Egypt to Kadeshbarnea, and 40 from Kadeshbarnea to Jericho, when they finally enter the land per se, for a total of 42 years.
Allright, 42 years, so what's the point? Well we'll see in a moment, but if you're a Bible-believing student of the Bible, that number, 42, already says something to you. First, let me confirm it.
In Numbers 33, we are given a list naming all the stations of the Jewish people as they trecked from Egypt to Canaan during those 42 years. Let's count them.
- Rameses
- Succoth
- Etham
- Pihahiroth
- Marah
- Elim
- the Red sea
- the wilderness of Sin
- Dophkah
- Alush
- Rephidim
- the wilderness of Sinai
- Kibrothhattaavah
- Hazeroth
- Rithmah
- Rimmonparez
- Libnah
- Rissah
- Kehelathah
- mount Shapher
- Haradah
- Makheloth
- Tahath
- Tarah
- Mithcah
- Hashmonah
- Moseroth
- Benejaakan
- Horhagidgad
- Jotbathah
- Ebronah
- Eziongaber
- the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh
- mount Hor
- Zalmonah
- Punon
- Oboth
- Ijeabarim
- Dibongad
- Almondiblathaim
- the mountains of Abarim
- the plains of Moab
I'd encourage you to open Numbers 33 and count them. That's how this post originated. I was reading my Bible and when I came upon Numbers 33 I decided to count the stations by transcribing them, which turned out 42 in number. I eventually remembered that the Jews had spent 42 years in the wilderness.
Friday night after AWANA, I showed the list to a church Deacon and friend named Dan. I said there are 42 stations listed, and the Jews spent 42 years in the wilderness, I have no idea what it all means but it's cool.
Then he pointed out the obvious which had completely eluded me. Looking at that number can you guess?
...
The Jews will suffer greatly during the 42 months of the great tribulation while Jerusalem is down-trodden and the antichrist rules as a god.
Revelation 11:2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Revelation 13:5
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
That would allow us to study the wilderness years as a type of the great tribulation and reinforces the teaching that Moses in one of the two witnesses that show up during the great tribulation.
We know for example that Israel, during the great tribulation, will flee to the wilderness and there be fed with manna from God yet again.
Revelation 12:6
And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
1260/30= 42 months!
Now when I got to this part of the post, I began to reference verses dealing with Israel in the wilderness during the great tribulation while she is fleeing from the antichrist, and I fell on a verse that astounded me... I literally got out of my chair and walked around for joy because the Lord confirmed the type. Had I found the verse before all this I would've opened with it; look:
Micah 7:14-15
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.
How's that one to confirm a type ey! V.14 is Israel in the wilderness during the great tribulation. If you're not sure check out the following verses.
Job is primarily a picture of Israel during the great tribulation. Do you remember how many chapters the book contains?
42.
Job 12:24
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Job 24:5
Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
Job 24:8
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
Job 30:3-7
For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
(The parallels with Elijah are great! Remember that Elijah who also shows up with Moses during the great tribulation as a witness, ends up1) driven forth from Jezebel, who shows up in the book of Revelation!
2) in the wilderness!
3) under a juniper tree!
4) requesting death!
5) fed with meat and drink supernaturally!
6) travelling through the wilderness 40 days!
7) in Horeb the mount of God (Sinai)!
8) in a cave!
1Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey (same term as used for Israel in the wilderness) into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1Ki 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
1Ki 19:6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
1Ki 19:7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
1Ki 19:8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
1Ki 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Jeremiah 31:2
Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
Hosea 2:14
Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
There's another place where 42 shows up in the Bible and it's in connection with Elisha
2Kings 2:23-25
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
Yet another place where 42 shows in the Bible.
2Kings 10:13 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen. :14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
42 shows up also in Ezra's genealogies.
If anyone has insight on how to tie it up, please leave a comment and let me know.
I'm thinking of the bears, since one of Daniel's 4 beasts is a bear, and the antichrist is an amalgam of the 4 beasts...but nothing beyond that, assuming "that" is anything at all... Anyway let me know.
The post probably has too many words to say little, but one thing's for sure, that Bible is out of this world and I hope your faith in the words and arrangement of the Lord's book is increased.
posted by Revelation 2:17 at 10:09 PM
15 Comments:
I don't know how to tie all this together but I will be thinking about and praying for revelation (accidental pun intended).
That is cool! The Bible is chock full of mystery and hidden pictures, that are opened as God grants revelation.
yes,
it's too bad so many will never see those things because they refuse to see the only basis on which God will show them anything:
the forsaking of their own righteousness for the righteousness of the sinless Son of God.
A few days after I wrote the post I realized that there's another place where 42 shows in the Bible.
2Kings 10:13 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.
:14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
Ok, I was doing my regular Bible reading a couple of days ago when I came across the following statement by Moses
Deuteronomy 2:14 And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.
He said they wandered for 38 years after Kadeshbarnea, not 40. So either God had grace, which is very much like him, by counting the 2 years leading up to Kadeshbarnea as part of the judgment of 40 years pronounced against the Jews when they would not take the land; or, it was another 2 years from Deut.2:14 before they effectually took the land and had rest, or something else I can't see, maybe a miscalculation...
That book is something else...
This PROVES that the hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy is divinely inspired? It states very clearly that the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything is...
42!
Glory to Zaphod!
Seriously, though... if you look hard enough, you will find some coincidences. I think that this number of 42 is just coincidence and has no real meaning.
I wish all blogs were like this one very informative and very interesting blog. Keep up the good work. I was in Panama recently and the ark of the covenant was discovered. The lost city of El Dorado is discovered in Chiriqui Panama. It is quiet interesting to see who is now taking responsibility for the exciting news. check out their link at http://thearkofthecovenantdiscovered.com/ Chiriqui archaeological sites. Exciting new news, revealed and exposed.
Might I offer you a clue?
42 can be read 3 x 14. One interesting occurrence in found in the Shema' itself: YHWH-Eloheinu-YHWH consists of three words for a total of fourteen letters.
This example is not reported by http://www.betemunah.org/fortytwo.html, however this post offers a good source for references.
In Christo.
Beth 'Etsmuth
I know the deer eat juniper but never considered it for human consumption, very bitter--- may have some cleansing properties to remove toxins from the body --- like poisons that accumulate when there is not enough water and the body is wasting away--- amazing how God always provides a way.
After God has allowed me to understand this weekend what you have understood many years ago, I searched the web and found this post of yours. Moses and the Israelites spent 42 years in the desert. 42 years has a significance. It means three times and a half. It also means "a time, times, and a half time." In the middle of the seven times, Jesus was born unto us. And just like the Israelites of Moses spent three times and a half in the desert, the Church of Christ will spend three times and a half in this world. And in the same way as manna was given to the Israelites whilst in the desert, the Holy Spirit is given to the Church of Christ whilst in this world. So let's be ready. Let's repent, pray, and listen to His Word and practice His Word. Only Jesus saves.
42 = rest after tribulation. Matt chapter 1 geneologgy of Jesus is 3 X 14= generations. Jesus is our rest.
I just wanted to point out that Moses was 80 years old when he appeared before pharaoh, and he was 120 right when he died, and the very next month, they cross the Jordan into the promised land. That is 40 years not 42, any way you spin it. You made a whole doctrine for yourself out of one misunderstood verse, that is you wrongly assumed without evidence that the 40 years, which you stated yourself began on the second year. This is impossible since we know the ages of Moses, and also Caleb, and we are told exactly when Moses died and when they crossed.
42 – the number of full exposure and termination of sin for a new beginning
The number 42 is composed of 7 x 6. For example, the genealogy of Christ in Matthew has 42 generations, which are divided into three groups of 14 generations (Matt. 1:17). 14 is the double of seven. So, the 42 generations have the pattern of 42 = 14 x 3 = 7 x 2 x 3 = 7 x 6. Similarly, the Great tribulation lasts for 42 months, which includes ½ year, 1 year and 2 years (Dan. 7:25; Rev. 11:2). Half a year is 6 months, so the 42 months is expressed as 42 = 6 + 12 + 24 = 6 + 6 x 2 + 6 x 4 = 6 x 7. What does 7 x 6 mean? Seven refers to God’s move in His created world; six refers to man’s sins. So, 42 = 7 x 6 means the complete move of God to fully expose and then terminate man’s sins, in order to have a new beginning in His testimony. Below are some examples to support this interpretation.
It took Israel 42 years to depart from Egypt and enter the good land. They spent about two years from the exodus to the spying out of the good land (Num. 13). But the assembly of Israel refused to enter the good land due to the evil reports of the spies. Then starting from this point, God counted 40 years for them to wander in the wilderness as a punishment of their evil heart of unbelief (Num. 14:33-34). During these 42 years, Israel passed 42 stations (Num. 33). Their sins were fully exposed and a whole generation of unfaithful Israelites fell in the wilderness. Afterward, the younger generation entered the good land to start a new testimony for God (the testimony of the kingdom).
The next example is Christ’s 42-generation genealogy in Matthew 1. The genealogy highlights the sinful history of Israel under God’s righteous judgment. It includes four sinful women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, wife of Uriah) to represent the sins of Israel. It is worthy to note that, in this genealogy, the incarnated Son and the resurrected Son are counted as two generations, because the resurrection is the second birth of Christ (Psa. 2:7; Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5). Christ was crucified as “the king of Jews”, so His death terminated the sinful Israel (the nation of Israel was also soon destroyed afterward). After these 42 generations that fully exposed and terminated the sins of Israel, the church was formed to begin a new testimony of the Son.
The Great Tribulation with 42 months are a period that Antichrist dominated and rampaged the earth. God will fully expose the sins of mankind in this period. When Christ is manifested at the end of the 42 months, He will destroy the kingdom of Antichrist and terminate all the sins of mankind. Afterward, mankind will begin a new testimony of God in the millennium.
Therefore, the three examples above cover three transitions of testimony through the number 42. God starts the testimony of kingdom by exposing and terminating the sinful generation of Israel in the wilderness for 42 years. God starts the testimony of the church by exposing and terminating the sinful Israel in 42 generations. Then Christ starts the testimony of the kingdom by exposing and terminating the sins of the whole mankind for 42 months. For minor example, Elisha cursed 42 boys who mocked him, and two bears tore up the 42 children (2 Kings 2:23-24). Jehu slew the brothers of Ahaziah, totally 42 men (2 Kings 10:14). Both cases feature the exposure and termination of sins.
I dont see Replacement Theology in the 42 theme of closing out a sinful era with a new start. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Eoh 2 grafts us gentiles into an eternal commonwealth. No commonwealth, no graft. Israel exterminated is the Gospel exterminated for the nation is by promise, not Torah alone (see Paul arguing Torah cannot modify the terms).
The promise is Land and Nation, blessing to all nations. If we are Avraham's descendants in terms of the promises, by faith, as Paul argues rightly, how then shall his admirers cut off the branch on which we sit and contradict his point?
Disinherit Israel, Disinherit the church, for grace and promise are the scarlet thread of hope for all generations. After 2 days, He will raise us up, the 3rd we will live in His sight. The whole 3 day sign of Messiah refers to this. Elijah was unaware of 7000 (nice Messianic number of completion) preserved even in his 42 month period.
Yes, 42 covered the distance from Exodus to Inheritance. Also as recorded in the 42 geneology members, from promise to 1st appearance of the One to crush the Serpent's head. Shall we not assume, since Revelations repeats this timeframe, that 42 is also in some way the gap from Exodus (this time believers in Messiah) to inheritance (the onset of Christ's millenial Kingdom?) John cast it in such terms for just such a reason, I think.
The exodus is all over Revelations, plagues repeat, serpent/dragon equals pharoah, Red Sea crossing seen along with Korah as an onslaught by a dragon speaking lies seeking to usurp the priesthood is swallowed alive like Korah and Pharoah were... the same Moses and a song theme closes it out... consider the possibility that Revelations is the Exodus revisited, an idiom for this looong journey from Messiah's resurrection and the down payment on redemption to our own full resurrection and inheritance in the Millenial Kingdom.
Cleansing from death occurred on 3rd and 7th days in Torah idiom. So it is cleansing from death happens on Messiah's death and resurrection (on the 3Rd day) and again the 7th Millenial day, His reappearance. To those eagerly awaiting His return, He appears without sin, unto salvation. See wedding at Cana, John counted 7 days, and 3 days in Ch 1 and 2 to capture this detail. Best wishes on you further study, thanks for posting your findings.
thanks for laying this all out, it's super helpful...also Psalm 1 Disciple, thanks for that ^^
I think GKell's comments are a bit rough, "You made a whole doctrine for yourself out of one misunderstood verse". From my count you provided well over 20 verse. Still it is worth trying to determine, if possible this side of eternity, what gives with the apparent contradiction. Also, Revelation 2:17's comments are interesting and worth looking into as well.
Anyway, what I wanted to comment for is to say that you are not on shaky ground with your blog, because F. W. Grant quotes in his book "The Numerical Bible, Fourth Edition" was published in 1903. And he quotes the following: "The number forty-two is also significant. It is the number of years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. It is also the number of books in the Hebrew Bible. This suggests that the number forty-two represents the journey of the Israelites from slavery to freedom, and from ignorance to knowledge." I think that quote is on page 18 of the book.
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