1 The Numerical Features of the Book of Genesis A New Approach to its Compositional Structure Please read the General Introduction Part IV, Genesis 11,27-25,11 The Toledoth of Terah If we take the Toledoth formulae seriously as being the headings of the Toledoth, there can be no doubt about the delimitation of the Toledoth of Terah, the Story of. It does not start in 12,1, as suggested by the chapter division, which is followed by most commentators and translations, but already at 11,27, which contains the heading, followed by a brief genealogy in 11,27-32, which functions as the Prologue to the Story of. In terms of the Masoretic layout markers, the Toledoth of Terah divides into 17 Paragraphs of disproporionate length, of which 7 are delimited by P and 10 by S. The 7 Paragraphs delimited by P seem to deal with crucial events in the storyline. In terms of content and numerical considerations, the 17 paragraphs divide into: I, 1-2: 11,27-12,9 P; II, 3-8: 12,10-17,27 P; III, 9-11: 18,1-21,21 P; IV, 12-13: 21,22-22,19 P; V, 14-17: 22,20-25,11 S. Note that Sections II and III have both 1560 (60x26) words and that 16 has 918 (54x17) words! 1: 11,27-32 Prologue to the Story of Abram S 89 I 2: 12,1-9 Abram s Call and his First Wanderings P 127 3: 12,10-13,18 Abram s Stay in Egypt and Canaan P 382 4: 14,1-24 Abram Among Belligerent Kings S 342 II 5: 15,1-21 YHWH s Covenant with Abram: the Exodus Foretold S 258 1560= 6: 16,1-16 Abram, Sarai, and Hagar S 223 60x26 7: 17,1-14 YHWH s Covenant with : the Circumcision S 178 8: 17,15-27 God Promises a Son P 177 9: 18,1-19,38 Meets the Three Men and Lot S 1000 III 10: 20,1-18 and Sarah at Gerar S 282 1560= 11: 21,1-21 The Birth of Isaac and the Expulsion of Hagar P 278 60x26 IV 12: 21,22-34 and Abimelech at Beer-Sheba P 158 13: 22,1-19 The Binding of Isaac in Moriah P 307 14: 22,20-24 Birth of Nahor s 12 Sons and Daughter Rebecca S 60 V 15: 23,1-20 Sarah s Death and Burial S 275 16: 24,1-67 In Search of a Wife for Isaac P 918 (54x17) 17: 25,1-11 s Death and Burial S 135 Section I, 1-2: Gen 11,27-12,9 Abram s Call and his First Wanderings Verses Texts Words Letters Sum words P/S Contents Highlighted 1 Gen 11,27 15 52 15 1 Prologue to the Abram-story 2 Gen 11,28 10 38 25 3 Gen 11,29 19 66 44 Nothing highlighted. 4 Gen 11,30 6 19 50 5 Gen 11,31 29 98 79 6 Gen 11,32 10 38 89/89 S
2 7 Gen 12,1 14+ 54 1 103 2 Abram s Call and Wanderings 8 Gen 12,2 8+ 36 111 9 Gen 12,3 9=17+ 41 120 The first seven verses (12,1-7) 10 Gen 12,4 17+ 65 2 137 are especially highlighted by 11 Gen 12,5 26+ 93 163 their 102 (6x17) words. 12 Gen 12,6 12+ 45 175 13 Gen 12,7 16=102(6x17) 61 3-4 191 14 Gen 12,8 20 72 5-6 211 15 Gen 12,9 5 22 216/127 P 15 11,27-12,9 127 6x 127 Observation 1 In terms of individual verses, 7 of the 15 verses (47%) and 102 of the 127 words (80%) are governed by the number 17. The Prologue misses such highlighted verses. Paragraphs 1-3, 11,27-13,18, also seem to constitute a literary unit with their 598 (23x26) words. Section II, 3-8: Gen 12,10-17,27 Abram s Life Before the Birth of Isaac In its entirety, Section II has 1560 (60x26) words (like Section III!); additionally 88 of the 117 individual verses (75%) and 1218 of the 1560 words (78%) are governed by the numbers 17 and 26. Vss Texts Words Letters Sum words P/S Contents Highlighted 1 Gen 12,10 12+ 44 12 3 Abram in Egypt and Canaan 2 Gen 12,11 17+ 61 29 The story why Abram came 3 Gen 12,12 12+ 47 41 to reside in Egypt is stressed 4 Gen 12,13 11=52(2x26) 42 52 by its 52 (2x26) words. 5 Gen 12,14 12 46 64 6 Gen 12,15 12 45 76 7 Gen 12,16 12 58 88 8 Gen 12,17 13 47 1 101 9 Gen 12,18 15 50 116 10 Gen 12,19 13 43 129 11 Gen 12,20 12 43 141 12 Gen 13,1 11+ 42 152 The story how Abram became 13 Gen 13,2 6=17+ 25 158 a very rich man and that he 14 Gen 13,3 18+ 61 176 travelled in stages towards 15 Gen 13,4 12+ 43 2 188 Bethel, together with Lot, who 16 Gen 13,5 9+ 33 197 also had many animals, is focused 17 Gen 13,6 14+ 48 211 on by its 85 (5x17) words. 18 Gen 13,7 15=85(5x17) 57 226 19 Gen 13,8 18+ 67 244 Abram s deal with Lot 20 Gen 13,9 13+ 53 257 21 Gen 13,10 25+ 85 3-4 282 The entire passage is highlighted 22 Gen 13,11 14+ 49 296 by the fact that it is made up of 23 Gen 13,12 11+ 40 307 altogether 156 (6x26) words. 24 Gen 13,13 6+ 26 5 313 25 Gen 13,14 21+ 75 6 334 26 Gen 13,15 12+ 38 346 27 Gen 13,16 16+ 55 362 28 Gen 13,17 8+ 32 370 29 Gen 13,18 12=156(6x26) 50 7 382/382 P 13,8-18 156 (6x26) words
3 30 Gen 14,1 14+ 58 396 4 Abram among Belligerent Kings 31 Gen 14,2 20=34(2x17)+ 71 416 This passage begins with 34 words 32 Gen 14,3 9+ 28 425 and ends with 17. Additionally, the 33 Gen 14,4 10+ 39 435 entire text is highlighted by the fact 34 Gen 14,5 20+ 88 455 that it has 136 (8x17) words. 35 Gen 14,6 10+ 35 465 36 Gen 14,7 18+ 64 483 37 Gen 14,8 18=119(7x17)+ 71 501 38 Gen 14,9 17=136(8x17) 71 518 39 Gen 14,10 14+ 58 532 The number 36 may be interpreted 40 Gen 14,11 10+ 34 542 as the numerical value of the name 41 Gen 14,12 12=36=Abram 42 554 Abram: 1+2+20+13=36. 42 Gen 14,13 18+ 73 572 14,13-24, Abram s campaign 43 Gen 14,14 17+ 64 589 against the allied kings with 318 men 44 Gen 14,15 12+ 52 601 and his victory over them, as well as 45 Gen 14,16 15+ 49 616 his meeting with Melchizedek, the 46 Gen 14,17 20+ 71 636 king of Salem, is highlighted by the 47 Gen 14,18 11+ 41 647 fact that it has 170 (10x17) words. 48 Gen 14,19 9+ 39 656 49 Gen 14,20 11+ 39 667 The mysterious number 318 can be 50 Gen 14,21 11+ 34 678 interpreted as being the numerical 51 Gen 14,22 14+ 50 8 692 value of the name Eliezer, Abram s 52 Gen 14,23 16+ 52 708 servant: 1+30+10+70+7+200=318. 53 Gen 14,24 16=170(10x17) 62 724/342 S 54 Gen 15,1 19+ 68 9 743 5 YHWH s Covenant with Abram 55 Gen 15,2 16+ 61 10 759 Verses 1-6 constitute a distinct 56 Gen 15,3 12+ 39 771 literary unit: the initiative taken by 57 Gen 15,4 15+ 51 11 786 God to make a covenant with Abram. 58 Gen 15,5 18+ 70 804 The passage is highlighted by its 59 Gen 15,6 5=85(5x17) 22 12 809 85 (5x17) words. 60 Gen 15,7 14 55 13 823 61 Gen 15,8 7 27 14 830 62 Gen 15,9 12 47 842 63 Gen 15,10 17 57 859 Abram brings the required animals. 64 Gen 15,11 7 27 866 65 Gen 15,12 13 52 879 66 Gen 15,13 17 61 896 YHWH foresees Israel s stay in Egypt, 67 Gen 15,14 12+ 42 908 their oppression for 400 years, his 68 Gen 15,15 8+ 33 916 judgment on Egypt and the release 69 Gen 15,16 11+ 37 927 of the Israelites from slavery. 70 Gen 15,17 15+ 56 942 YHWH makes a covenant with Abram 71 Gen 15,18 20+ 73 15 962 in which he promises to give Abram s 72 Gen 15,19 6=26+ 24 968 descendants the land of the ten 73 Gen 15,20 6=78(3x26) 24 974 indigenous nations living there. 74 Gen 15,21 8 35 982/258 S 75 Gen 16,1 11+ 38 993 6 Abram, Sarai, and Hagar 76 Gen 16,2 20+ 71 16 1013 77 Gen 16,3 21=52(2x26)+ 78 1034 The entire passage, except verse 4
4 78 Gen 16,4 10 38 1044 and verses 15-16, are governed by 79 Gen 16,5 19+ 78 17 1063 the numbers 17 and 26. 80 Gen 16,6 15=34(2x17) 59 1078 81 Gen 16,7 11+ 41 18 1089 82 Gen 16,8 15=26+ 56 1104 83 Gen 16,9 10+ 39 19 1114 84 Gen 16,10 11+ 39 20 1125 85 Gen 16,11 16+ 57 21-22 1141 86 Gen 16,12 14+ 43 1155 87 Gen 16,13 15+ 51 23 1170 88 Gen 16,14 12=104(4x26) 36 1182 89 Gen 16,15 12 44 1194 90 Gen 16,16 11 42 1205/223 S 91 Gen 17,1 20 74 24 1225 7 YHWH s Covenant with 92 Gen 17,2 8 35 1233 17,1 contains the 17 th of the 17 93 Gen 17,3 8 31 1241 occurrences of the name 94 Gen 17,4 8 30 1249 in 14,1-17,27. 95 Gen 17,5 14 48 1263 96 Gen 17,6 9 40 1272 97 Gen 17,7 16+ 73 1288 YHWH promises to establish the 98 Gen 17,8 16+ 63 1304 covenant between him and 99 Gen 17,9 12+ 50 1316 including his descendants, and to 100 Gen 17,10 13+ 52 1329 give them the land of Canaan. 101 Gen 17,11 9+ 40 1338 Every male must be circumcised. 102 Gen 17,12 19=85(5x17) 66 1357 Being circumcised is a prerequisite 103 Gen 17,13 11+ 50 1368 for membership of the nation. 104 Gen 17,14 15=26 55 1383/178 S 105 Gen 17,15 14+ 46 1397 8 God Promises a Son 106 Gen 17,16 14+ 57 1411 107 Gen 17,17 17+ 63 1428 The 7 verses (15-21) of the passage 108 Gen 17,18 8+ 35 1436 dealing with YHWH s promise that 109 Gen 17,19 20+ 77 1456 Sarai will be a mother of nations, are 110 Gen 17,20 18+ 83 1474 highlighted by 104 (4x26) words. 111 Gen 17,21 13=104(4x26) 46 1487 112 Gen 17,22 7 28 1494 113 Gen 17,23 29 105 1523 114 Gen 17,24 8 33 1531 115 Gen 17,25 10+ 37 1541 Ishmael s circumcision: 13 years old. 116 Gen 17,26 7=17 30 1548 and Ishmael circumcised. 117 Gen 17,27 12 41 1560/177 P Also all the men of his household. 117 12,10-17,27 1560(60x26) 5849 24x 1560(60x26) Observation 2 The additionally highlighted passages (Column 8) are self-explanatory. The fact that Section II, Abram s sojourns in Egypt and Canaan, is for 100% governed by the number 26 illustrates their paramount importance. The same goes for the Section III, 18,1-21,21. However, let us first explore the numerical features of the Dialogues in 5-7 of Section I, Gen 15-17, dealing with the Covenant with Abram Sarai and Hagar and the Covenant with :
5 Genesis 15 Genesis 16 YHWH 10+9=19 5+10=15 4+9=13 2+3=5 2+12=14 2+10=12 2+46=48 8+32=40 : 35+131=166 Angel 1+8=9 4+6=10 4+7=11 4+26=30 Abram 2+14=16 2+10=12 1+6=7 : 5+30=35 Sarah 4+12=16 4+15=19 Abram 4+7=11 Hagar 1+5=6 Narrative 5 37 15 : 57 11 35 15
6 Genesis 17 13+47=60 15-16 God/Angel 48+178=226 Hagar 5+10=15 6+15=21 Humans 23+79=102 35 96 Narrative 153 6+15=21 7 4+63=67 4 4+75=79 13, 14, 15 14+153=167 4+24=28 2+10=12 4+4=8 5 2+49=51 20+226=246 6+14=20 73 89
7 Observation 3 The following numerical features of these dialogues have come to light: There are 17 divine speeches (4 by YHWH s Angel and 13 by YHWH himself). In 16,11-12, the Angel speaks 26 words announcing the birth of Ishmael. In Genesis 15-16, 102 (6x17) words are devoted to the human dialogues (Abram, Sarah, and Hagar) and 153 (9x17) words are devoted to the remaining narrative sections. In 17,1-14, YHWH s speeches 13, 14, and 15, in which he informs about the covenantal stipulations, is made up of altogether 153 (9x17) words. In 17,19-21, YHWH s speech (including its introduction), in which he promises to establish a covenant with Isaac and to make Ishmael fruitful and multiply him, is made up of 51 (3x17) words. Section III, 9-11: Gen 18,1-21,21 s Life Until the Birth of Isaac In terms of verses and words, 85 of the 110 verses (77%) and all of the 1560 (60x26) words (100%) are governed by the numbers 17 and 26. Compare Section II, which has also 1560 (60x26) words! Vss Texts Words Lett. Sum words P/S Contents 1 Gen 18,1 11+ 42 1 11 9, Three Men, and Lot 2 Gen 18,2 15=26 67 26 God appears to in Mamre 3 Gen 18,3 12 41 38 4 Gen 18,4 9 34 47 5 Gen 18,5 18 65 65 6 Gen 18,6 14+ 54 79 Abram instructs Sarah to prepare a 7 Gen 18,7 15+ 52 94 meal: the three men eat while Sarah 8 Gen 18,8 15+ 59 109 remains in the tent. 9 Gen 18,9 8=52(2x26) 32 117 The men tell that Sarah 10 Gen 18,10 16+ 60 133 will have a son, a message which 11 Gen 18,11 10=26 44 143 Sarah happens to overhear. 12 Gen 18,12 11 43 154 13 Gen 18,13 14 51 2 168 14 Gen 18,14 10 39 3 178 15 Gen 18,15 11 38 189 16 Gen 18,16 11 45 200 17 Gen 18,17 8 31 4 208 18 Gen 18,18 11 44 219 19 Gen 18,19 25 94 5-6 244 20 Gen 18,20 11 41 7 255 21 Gen 18,21 11 40 266 22 Gen 18,22 10+ 45 8 276 The greater part of vs 22-33 dealing 23 Gen 18,23 8+ 30 284 with s urgent plea for 24 Gen 18,24 16=34(2x17) 65 300 compassion with the inhabitants 25 Gen 18,25 20 70 320 of Sodom, is governed by 17 and 26. 26 Gen 18,26 13 57 9 333 27 Gen 18,27 12+ 47 345 The last 7 verses of s plea 28 Gen 18,28 18+ 75 363 are highlighted by the fact that they 29 Gen 18,29 14+ 61 377 have 104 (4x26) words. 30 Gen 18,30 17+ 64 394 31 Gen 18,31 16+ 66 410 32 Gen 18,32 17+ 67 427 33 Gen 18,33 10=104(4x26) 39 10 437
8 34 Gen 19,1 16 68 453 35 Gen 19,2 20+ 84 473 Lot invites the two angels from 36 Gen 19,3 14=34(2x17) 55 487 Sodom to spend the night with him: 37 Gen 19,4 15 53 502 highlighted by 34 (2x17) words 38 Gen 19,5 15 62 517 39 Gen 19,6 7 29 524 40 Gen 19,7 5+ 16 529 The men of the city demand to 41 Gen 19,8 29=34(2x17) 97 558 know Lot s guests, but he offers his 42 Gen 19,9 20+ 78 578 two young daughters instead. Lot is 43 Gen 19,10 12+ 49 590 attacked, but the angels rescue him 44 Gen 19,11 13+ 53 603 and strike the mob with blindness. 45 Gen 19,12 18+ 62 621 The entire passage is highlighted by 46 Gen 19,13 15=78(3x26) 59 11-12 636 34 (2x17) + 78 (3x26) words. 47 Gen 19,14 22+ 86 13 658 The rest of the story (vs 14-31): the 48 Gen 19,15 19+ 74 677 evacuation from the doomed city 49 Gen 19,16 16+ 76 14 693 is highlighted by 272 (16x17) words 50 Gen 19,17 19+ 73 712 (153 [9x17] + 119 [7x17]), until the 51 Gen 19,18 6+ 20 718 beginning of the story of how Lot s 52 Gen 19,19 23+ 88 741 daughters decide to make him drunk 53 Gen 19,20 17+ 60 758 and lie with him in order to preserve 54 Gen 19,21 14+ 52 772 offspring through him (vs 32-38). 55 Gen 19,22 17=153(9x17) 51 789 56 Gen 19,23 7+ 23 796 57 Gen 19,24 12+ 44 15-16 808 58 Gen 19,25 13+ 47 821 59 Gen 19,26 6+ 25 827 60 Gen 19,27 11=17+ 38 17 838 61 Gen 19,28 17+ 62 855 62 Gen 19,29 22+ 81 877 63 Gen 19,30 17+ 66 894 64 Gen 19,31 14=119(7x17) 57 908 65 Gen 19,32 10 40 918 66 Gen 19,33 15 62 933 67 Gen 19,34 21+ 83 954 Lot s daughters execute their plan to 68 Gen 19,35 15+ 61 969 make him drunk, lie with him, and 69 Gen 19,36 5+ 22 974 get pregnant: 52 words highlighted. 70 Gen 19,37 11=52(2x26) 40 985 The first-born is Moab! 71 Gen 19,38 15 50/3848 1000/1000 S occurs 17x until this point. 71 18,1-19,38 1000 (148x26) 1000 Is this round number a coincidence? 72 Gen 20,1 12+ 45 1012 10 and Sarah at Gerar 73 Gen 20,2 14=26 52 1026 The entire paragraph is highlighted 74 Gen 20,3 17 63 1043 by the numbers 17 and 26 75 Gen 20,4 10+ 39 1053 (26+17+52+85+102=282). That is 76 Gen 20,5 18+ 61 1071 why there is nothing special about 77 Gen 20,6 24=52(2x26) 86 1095 God s words spoken to Abimelech in 78 Gen 20,7 21+ 70 1116 a dream: 4+41-45, except that 41 79 Gen 20,8 15+ 69 1131 signifies the letter value of : 80 Gen 20,9 24+ 91 1155 1+2+20+5+13=41.
9 81 Gen 20,10 11+ 39 1166 82 Gen 20,11 14=85(5x17) 55 1180 83 Gen 20,12 13+ 38 1193 84 Gen 20,13 24+ 81 1217 85 Gen 20,14 13+ 53 1230 86 Gen 20,15 8+ 35 1238 87 Gen 20,16 18+ 62 1256 88 Gen 20,17 12+ 56 1268 89 Gen 20,18 14=102(6x17) 46 18 1282/282 S 18 20,1-18 282 1041 1x 282 90 Gen 21,1 11+ 39 19-20 1293 11 Birth of Isaac: Hagar Sent Away 91 Gen 21,2 11+ 44 1304 YHWH fulfils his promise and Sarah 92 Gen 21,3 12=34(2x17) 40 1316 bears a son: Isaac. 93 Gen 21,4 12 43 1328 Except for v 4, the entire passage 94 Gen 21,5 9+ 30 1337 (vs 1-14) is highlighted by 17 and 26. 95 Gen 21,6 10+ 33 1347 96 Gen 21,7 11+ 44 1358 97 Gen 21,8 11+ 45 1369 98 Gen 21,9 10=51(3x17) 37 1379 99 Gen 21,10 17+ 57 1396 100 Gen 21,11 8+ 30 1404 101 Gen 21,12 23+ 80 1427 102 Gen 21,13 9+ 30 1436 103 Gen 21,14 21=78(3x26) 77 1457 104 Gen 21,15 10 37 1467 Ishmael in a near-death situation. 105 Gen 21,16 19 68 1486 106 Gen 21,17 28 94 1514 107 Gen 21,18 12 43 1526 108 Gen 21,19 15+ 55 1541 God enables Hagar to see a well of 109 Gen 21,20 10+ 39 1551 water: she gives her child water and 110 Gen 21,21 9=34(2x17) 34 1560/278 P it survives to live in Paran. 21 21,1-21 278 999 2x 278 39 20,1-21,21 560 2040 560 2040 = 120x17 letters. 110 18,1-21,21 1560(60x26) 5888 20x 1560(60x26) Observation 4 In terms of words, the entire text of Section III, 9-11: 18,1-21,21, is governed by a multiple of the divine name number 26, because 1560 = 60x26. This is a strong indication that Section III has been designed as a distinct literary unit. Its first subsection, 9: 18,1-19,38, has altogether 1000 words (a full-round number!) and 3848 (148x26) letters. The second subsection, 10-11: 20,1-21,21, has 2040 (120x17) letters, which can hardly be a matter of coincidence.
10 The Dialogues in Genesis 18 God Narrative 1+4=5 1+33=34(2x17) 1+8=9 26 5 30 2+3=5 1+9-10 4+20=24 1+3=4 2+42=44 1+2=3 Sarah 4+7=11 3+2=5 16 2 11 2+20=22 2+11=13 1+7=8 1+4=5 1+6=7 1+4=5 1+4=5 20+137=157 3+41=44 3+19=22 5+4=9 1+9=10 1+10=11 1+11=12 24+146=170 10 10 110
11 Observation 5 Remarkably enough, there is nothing significant about the 13 divine speeches. However, significant is that 170 (10x17) words are devoted to the dialogues of and Sarah. Note also the ascending series in the words devoted to s plea in vs 29-32: 9, 10, 11, 12. The Dialogues in Genesis 19 The Angels 1+4=5 4+29=33 4+12=16 1+14=15 2+23=25 Characters Lot 1+14=15 City men 5+10=15 Lot 1+33=34(2x17) City men 2+11=13 Lot 8+10=18 3+43=46 Lot: 13+100=113 Narrative 16 29 7 32 4 3 20
12 Lot s daughters 4+20=24 6+15=21 111 15 46 12+82=94 30+156=186 283 Observation 6 As in Genesis 18, there is nothing significant about the five divine speeches, except that there are altogether 17 speeches in Genesis 18-19 (12+5=17 speeches). What is also special is that the words spoken by the mob, Lot, and his daughters, amount to 156 (6x26). Moreover, 34 (2x17) words are devoted to Lot s measures in reponse to the immoral demand of the mob (vs 7-8). Lot s role is extra highlighted by the fact that he speaks altogether 100 words.
13 Section IV, Gen 21,22-22,19 at Beer-Sheba and in Moriah No less than 30 of the 32 verses (94%) and 419 of the 465 words (90%) are governed by 17 and 26. 1 Gen 21,22 17 64 17 12 at Beer-Sheba 2 Gen 21,23 21 79 38 Except for v 23, the whole story of 3 Gen 21,24 4+ 18 42 s s sojourn at Beer-Sheba 4 Gen 21,25 12+ 48 54 and his dealings with Abimelech 5 Gen 21,26 20+ 68 74 is governed by 17 and 26. 6 Gen 21,27 9+ 42 83 7 Gen 21,28 7=52(2x26) 27 90 8 Gen 21,29 12+ 46 102 9 Gen 21,30 16+ 55 118 10 Gen 21,31 11+ 36 129 11 Gen 21,32 13=52(2x26)+ 54 142 12 Gen 21,33 10+ 34 1 152 13 Gen 21,34 6=68(4x17) 27 158/158 P 13 21,22-34 158 598 1x 158 14 Gen 22,1 13+ 57 171 13 The Binding of Isaac in Moriah 15 Gen 22,2 25+ 81 196 The story about the journey of 16 Gen 22,3 25+ 92 221 and Isaac to Moriah, vs 1-8, 17 Gen 22,4 10+ 41 231 is highlighted by 136 (8x17) words. 18 Gen 22,5 17+ 67 248 19 Gen 22,6 18+ 67 266 20 Gen 22,7 17+ 68 283 21 Gen 22,8 11=136(8x17) 45 294 22 Gen 22,9 25 93 319 V 9, the building of the altar and the 23 Gen 22,10 10+ 36 329 binding of Isaac is not highlighted! 24 Gen 22,11 11+ 48 2 340 The rest of the story is highlighted 25 Gen 22,12 24+ 79 364 by 78 (3x26) and 68 (4x17) words. 26 Gen 22,13 20+ 79 384 Therefore, 18 of the 19 verses (95%) 27 Gen 22,14 13=78(3x26) 51 3-4 397 and 282 of the 307 words (92%) are 28 Gen 22,15 8+ 31 5 405 governed by 17 and 26. 29 Gen 22,16 18+ 60 6 423 30 Gen 22,17 19+ 70 442 31 Gen 22,18 9+ 36 451 32 Gen 22,19 14=68(4x17) 54 465/307 P 19 22,1-19 307 1155 5x 307 32 21,22-22,19 465 1753 6x 465 Observation 7 The Binding of Isaac in Moriah, 13, 22,1-19, has a distinct mathematical centre in terms of its 307 words: namely, the name of in v 9b: 307=153+1+153. The 153(9x17) words flanking the name symbolically express God s eighteenfold(!) presence. The author used this meticulously organized architecture of the text to demonstrate Isaac s real position in the fateful situation of being bound on the altar: He is surrounded by God s presence which guarantees his safety! For more particulars, see my article Numerical Features of Genesis 22:1-19, at http://www.labuschagne.nl/19.genesis22,1-19.pdf.
14 The Dialogues in Genesis 21,22-22,19 God Abimelech 8+27=35 Narrative 3 2+2=4 12 Abimelech 2+18=20 16 4+8=12 1+15=16 40 Genesis 22 God 2+1=3 1+24=25 Subtotal 17+70=87 1+1=2 Subtotal 71 8 35 4+13=17 Isaac 6+1=7 1+2=3 Isaac 1+6=7 2+6=8 18 3 35 The Angel 1+2=3 1+23=24 1+1=2 6 20 1+45=46 Subtotal 16+30=46 13 8 6+95=101 33+100=133 14 231 Observation 8 The words devoted to all the speeches amount to 234 (9x26) (101+133=234).
15 Section V, 14-17: Gen 22,20-25,11 Conclusion of the -story The romantic story of s servant going in search of a bride for Isaac (Genesis 24) is for 100% governed by the divine name number 17, through its 918 (54x17) words. This was deliberately done in order to stress the presence of YHWH in the events described in this important story. Vss Texts Words Letters Sum words P/S Contents Highlighted 1 Gen 22,20 15+ 61 15 14 The Sons of Nahor 2 Gen 22,21 10+ 33 25 46 represents the numerical value of 3 Gen 22,22 10+ 34 35 (20+2+19+5=46). See 23,17-20! 4 Gen 22,23 11=46 = 43 46 Betuel is the father of Rebecca! 5 Gen 22,24 14 49 60/60 S This preludes on her marriage to Isaac. 6 Gen 23,1 12 43 72 15 Sarah s Death and Burial 7 Gen 23,2 13 55 85 8 Gen 23,3 10 34 95 Except for the first four verses, the 9 Gen 23,4 12 45 107/47 entire text of the story of s 10 Gen 23,5 7+ 23 114 acquisition of the field of Ephron from 11 Gen 23,6 20+ 75 134 the Hittites is highlighted by the divine 12 Gen 23,7 7+ 28 141 name number 17, by its 170 words 13 Gen 23,8 17+ 61 158 built up step by step: 68 + 68 + 34. 14 Gen 23,9 17=68(4x17)+ 62 175 15 Gen 23,10 18+ 65 193 16 Gen 23,11 18+ 63 211 17 Gen 23,12 5+ 21 216 18 Gen 23,13 21+ 72 237 19 Gen 23,14 6=68(4x17)+ 22 243 20 Gen 23,15 14+ 48 257 21 Gen 23,16 20=170(10x17) 75 277/170(10x17) 22 Gen 23,17 20+ 74 297 Vs 17-20, stressing the permanence of 23 Gen 23,18 9+ 34 306 s acquisition of the site, are 24 Gen 23,19 18+ 64 324 made up of 58 words, which represent 25 Gen 23,20 11=58 41 335/275 S the numerical value of 20 23,1-20 275 1005 275 (13+11+17+12+5=58). Compare 14! 26 Gen 24,1 9+ 34 1 344 16 In Search of a Wife for Isaac 27 Gen 24,2 15+ 50 359 28 Gen 24,3 17+ 72 2 376 Vs 1-11, the story of the commission of 29 Gen 24,4 10=51(3x17) 37 386 s servant and the first leg of 30 Gen 24,5 21+ 74 407 his search when he arrives at the well 31 Gen 24,6 10+ 34 417 precisely at the time women go out to 32 Gen 24,7 29+ 112 3 446 draw water, is made up of 170 words 33 Gen 24,8 15+ 51 461 (51 + 119). 34 Gen 24,9 13+ 45 474 35 Gen 24,10 19+ 73 493 36 Gen 24,11 12=119(7x17) 45 505/170 37 Gen 24,12 14+ 54 4 519 Vs 12-18, the story of the servant s 38 Gen 24,13 12+ 43 531 prayer asking God to give him a clear 39 Gen 24,14 25=51(3x17) 89 556 indication of the woman he has 40 Gen 24,15 20+ 73 576 appointed for Isaac, until the moment 41 Gen 24,16 13+ 51 589 that Rebecca gives him water to drink, 42 Gen 24,17 9+ 39 598 is made up of 102 (6x17) words. 43 Gen 24,18 9=51(3x17) 35 607/272(16x17) Vs 1-18 have 272 (16x17) words.
16 44 Gen 24,19 10 38 617 45 Gen 24,20 13+ 48 630 Vs 20-25, the episode of the meeting 46 Gen 24,21 10 39 5 640 between the servant and Rebecca, 47 Gen 24,22 18=51(3x17) 72 658 who identifies herself and offers him 48 Gen 24,23 13+ 41 671 hospitality, is composed of 85 (5x17) 49 Gen 24,24 10+ 38 681 words in two steps (51+ 34=85). 50 Gen 24,25 11=34(2x17) 37 692/357 Vs 1-25 has 357(21x17) words! 51 Gen 24,26 4 19 6 696 52 Gen 24,27 20 76 7-8 716 Central verse: The servant s blessing. 53 Gen 24,28 7 29 723 See Observation 9 below! 54 Gen 24,29 11 39 734 55 Gen 24,30 28+ 99 762 Vs 30-33, the episode of Laban s 56 Gen 24,31 12+ 52 9 774 reaction to Rebecca s story and his 57 Gen 24,32 16+ 73 790 invitation to the servant is composed 58 Gen 24,33 12=68(4x17) 45 802 of 68 (4x 17) words. 59 Gen 24,34 4+ 17 806 Vs 34-36, the beginning of the speech 60 Gen 24,35 16+ 65 10 822 of the servant, in which he explains the 61 Gen 24,36 14=34(2x17) 45 836 aim of his errand, has 34 (2x17) words. 62 Gen 24,37 13 53 849 V 34, the servant identifies himself, 63 Gen 24,38 11 36 860 is the centre of 24,1-67 (67=33+1+33). 64 Gen 24,39 8+ 26 868 Vs 39-49, the rest of the servant s 65 Gen 24,40 17+ 76 11 885 speech, in which he interprets the 66 Gen 24,41 14+ 49 899 succes of his errand to find a wife for 67 Gen 24,42 18+ 65 12 917 Isaac as due to divine providence, 68 Gen 24,43 17+ 65 934 is made up of 182 (7x26) words. 69 Gen 24,44 15+ 54 13 949 The factor 7 (the number of fullness) 70 Gen 24,45 19=51(3x17)+ 71 968 signifies the comprehensive presence 71 Gen 24,46 13+ 56 981 of YHWH in the events described. 72 Gen 24,47 22+ 76 1003 73 Gen 24,48 19+ 74 14-15 1022 74 Gen 24,49 20=182(7x26) 65 1042 75 Gen 24,50 14+ 51 16 1056 Vs 50-51, permission given by Laban 76 Gen 24,51 12=26 43 17 1068 and Betuel for the marriage: 26 words. 77 Gen 24,52 10 42 18 1078 Until verse 51 17 instances of YHWH. 78 Gen 24,53 13 56 1091 79 Gen 24,54 12 58 1103 80 Gen 24,55 11+ 40 1114 Vs 55-61, the family is reluctant to let 81 Gen 24,56 11+ 49 19 1125 Rebecca leave immediately, but, when 82 Gen 24,57 6+ 25 1131 they consult her, she is willing to leave 83 Gen 24,58 10+ 43 1141 the same day. 84 Gen 24,59 11+ 43 1152 The family dispatches Rebecca and 85 Gen 24,60 15=26+ 58 1167 gives her their blessing: 26 words. 86 Gen 24,61 14=78(3x26) 62 1181 The text is made up of 78(3x26) words. 87 Gen 24,62 10 36 1191 Isaac goes for a walk to meditate and 88 Gen 24,63 12 50 1203 sees camels coming: 89 Gen 24,64 10+ 36 1213 Rebecca sees a young man: Who 90 Gen 24,65 16=26+ 66 1229 is this man? Then s servant 91 Gen 24,66 8=34(3x17) 30 1237 introduces him: He is my master! 92 Gen 24,67 16 62 1253/918(54x17) P Isaac brings her into his tent. 67 24,1-67 918(54x17) 3499 19x 918(54x17)
17 93 Gen 25,1 6 25 1259 17 s Death and Burial 94 Gen 25,2 14+ 45 1273 His children and grandchildren by his 95 Gen 25,3 12=26 47 1285 concubine Keturah. 96 Gen 25,4 11 45 1296 97 Gen 25,5 7 23 1303 98 Gen 25,6 17 70 1320 He sends all of them away: 17 words. 99 Gen 25,7 13+ 46 1333 25,7-11, the conclusion of Section V, 100 Gen 25,8 10+ 41 1343 the story of of : his last days 101 Gen 25,9 18+ 66 1361 and his burial with his wife Sarah in the 102 Gen 25,10 12+ 42 1373 cave of Machpelah, is made up of 103 Gen 25,11 15=68(4x17) 54 0x 1388/135 S 68 (4x17) words. Observation 9 The central verse of Section V (22,20-25,11), 24,27 (which is the 52 th verse!), is flanked by 51 (3x17) verses on either side: 103=51+1+51. It is a most appropriate meaningful centre, for it constitutes the blessing pronounced by s servant when he found Rebecca! Being in pride of place, it brings the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca strongly into the focus of attention. This carefully designed centre on verse level has clearly been inspired by the architecture of 22,1-19 where the name of Isaac is positioned at the mathematical centre. Observation 10 In terms of words, the entire text of 16 (24,1-67) is for 100% governed by the divine name number 17, seeing its 918 (54x17) words. Additionally, 55 of its 67 individual verses (82%) and 779 of the 918 words (85%) are highlighted by multiples of 17 and 26. This shows that the story of the Search for a Wife for Isaac is a high-grade numerical composition in which the divine name numbers are woven into the fabric of the text to signify the presence of YHWH in the events. The ingenious way it is done is self-explanatory. Observation 11 An exploration of the dialogues in 24,1-67 has brought the following to light: In vs 6-8, s speech addressed to his servant is made up of 51 (3x17) words. In vs 12-14, altogether 51 (3x17) words are devoted to the response of the servant. In vs17-23, the servant addresses Rebecca and speaks 17 words. In vs 50-51, 26 words are devoted to the speech by Laban and Betuel, including the intro. In vs 18, 19, 24, 25, and 58, altogether 34 (2x17) words are devoted to what Rebecca says, including the introductory formulae (3+8+10+11+2=34). Observation 12 A significant numerical feature of of the text until the end of the Toledoth of Terah, Gen 1,1-25,11, is that it appears to have been preliminary rounded off at this point in the compositional process, seeing the number of words: 8892 (342x26). For two similar features in Deuteronomy, see Observation 8 in the analysis of Deuteronomy, Part V.