The Significance of numbers in the Bible ( Part 2)

Number Two – 2   

   

• Two is unity plus another, thus we have a difference or a contrast between the one and the other. 

• Two is the first number by which we can divide another, in all of its uses this fundamental idea of division or difference shows through. 

• The first time that the word Two is used in the bible is in relation to this theme of division. 

“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day”                                                                                                                Genesis 1:4-5

• When it comes to the course of human affairs, the difference may be for good or for bad. The second might be for comfort or help. 

9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?                                                                     Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

• However it might be in opposition, enmity or oppression. Unfortunately when humans are involved the second is more likely the case.

22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 

23And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and Two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.               Genesis 25:22-23             

• Here we have Rebekah pregnant with Jacob and Esau who struggled from within the womb and all through their lives. 
• Here we have a prime example of not only Two who are in opposition to each other but also a contrast. 

• The Bible often seeks to teach us by showing us a contrast between a bad example and a good one. 

• Esau was the oldest and thus should have inherited the birthright of the promises given to Abraham and Isaac. 

• However he valued them so little that he sold them to Jacob for a pot of stew. When Esau was forty years old he took Two wives of the Hittites which were a grief of mind or a bitterness of Spirit to Isaac and Rebekah                                                    Genesis 26:35 

• Jacob on the other hand valued the birthright so highly that he even resorted to deception and guile to win them. Also he worked for 14 years to attain the wife of his parents (and his own) choosing.

The use of number Two to contrast one from other is evident in many other instances

 Jeremiah 24:1  The LORD shewed me, and, behold, Two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that

Luke 16:13  No servant can serve Two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and money. 

Luke 15:11  And he said, A certain man had Two sons:

 Luke 6: 48  Two builders

Luke 18:10   Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luke 17:34  I tell you, in that night there shall be Two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Luke 17:35   Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:36  Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Can Two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3 

James 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Two in agreement becomes double sure and strong

 John 8:17  It is also written in your law, that the testimony of Two men is true.

Matthew 18:19  Again I say unto you, That if Two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Luke 2:24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or Two young pigeons.

John 20:12  And seeth Two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Luke 9:32  But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the Two men that stood with him.

Acts 1:10  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, Two men stood by them in white apparel;

Luke 10:1  After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them Two and Two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Hebrews 6:18  That by Two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us

Luke 22:38  And they said, Lord, behold, here are Two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Genesis 7:9  There went in Two and Two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.

Genesis 27:9  Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence Two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth

The Old and New Testaments.

• The most obvious example of the number featuring in the Bible must surely be the to testaments into which it is divided. 
• The Old Testament gives us the law and shows us by example that humans failed to live up to the law and Gods perfect standards again and again. 
• Thus the main effect of the law was to show us the sinful nature mankind. 
• In contrast the New Testament, shows us the eternal and never-failing nature of Gods love for us. 
• It ushers in the New contract between God and us, where we now live by the Spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. 
• The main effect of the New Testament is to freely give us that which we could not earn by ourselves, eternal life and a restored relationship with God.
• Thus the Old Testament brings us to sin and death while the New shows us grace and life

Revelation 11:3  And I will give power unto my Two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand Two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Revelation 11:4  These are the Two olive trees, and the Two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Zechariah 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these Two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

Zechariah 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these Two olive branches which through the Two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

Zechariah 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Revelation 12:14  And to the woman were given Two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Other scriptures where Two is used: 

Deuteronomy 9:10  And the LORD delivered unto me Two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD had spoken with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

Revelation 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these Two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Luke 9:30  And, behold, there talked with him Two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Acts 7:29  Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat Two sons.

Matthew 27:38  Then were there Two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

Luke 21:2  And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither Two mites.

Genesis 49:14  Issachar is a strong ass couching down between Two burdens:

Mark 11:4  And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where Two ways met; and they loose him.

Acts 27:41  And falling into a place where Two seas met, they ran the ship aground;

Zechariah 5:9  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out Two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.

Zechariah 6:1  And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between Two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.

Ezekiel 40:39  And in the porch of the gate were Two tables on this side, and Two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.

Two ways:

Matthew-7-13 Broad way and the narrow way

2Chronicles 9:18  And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and Two lions standing by the stays: