The number 40,000 appears in the Bible in contexts that often involve military counts or large groups of people. It is a significant figure that is used to convey the magnitude of an army or assembly, reflecting the importance of the event or situation being described.

1. Military Contexts:

· Judges 5:8: In the Song of Deborah, a poetic account of the victory of Israel over the Canaanite forces led by Sisera, the number 40,000 is mentioned to emphasize the lack of weapons among the Israelites. The verse states, "When they chose new gods, then war was in the gates. Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel." This highlights the dire situation of the Israelites before their miraculous victory, underscoring the divine intervention that led to their success.

· 1 Chronicles 12:36: This passage lists the warriors who joined David at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. The verse mentions, "From Asher, there were 40,000 who went out to battle, ready for war." This enumeration of troops signifies the widespread support David received from the tribes of Israel, marking a pivotal moment in his rise to kingship.

2. Symbolic and Cultural Significance:

The use of large numbers like 40,000 in the Bible often serves to convey the idea of completeness or a significant multitude. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, numbers were sometimes used symbolically rather than literally, to express the greatness or importance of an event or group. The number 40 itself is frequently associated with periods of testing, trial, or judgment, as seen in the 40 days and nights of rain during the Flood (Genesis 7:12) or the 40 years of Israel's wandering in the desert (Numbers 14:33-34).

3. Interpretative Considerations:

When interpreting the number 40,000 in biblical texts, it is important to consider the literary and historical context. The mention of such a large number could be intended to impress upon the reader the scale of the event or the strength of the forces involved. It may also reflect the oral tradition of storytelling, where numbers are used to enhance the narrative.

In summary, the number 40,000 in the Bible is primarily associated with military contexts, serving to highlight the scale and significance of the events described. It reflects both the historical realities of ancient warfare and the symbolic use of numbers in biblical literature.40000 (3 Occurrences)

2 Samuel 10:18
The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there.
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 12:36
Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 19:18
The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army.
(See NAS)

40000 (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 40000 (3 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 10:18 The Syrians
fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the ...
/num/40000.htm - 7k

37000 (1 Occurrence)

/num/37000.htm - 6k

40500 (2 Occurrences)

/num/40500.htm - 6k

Sidon (35 Occurrences)
... butchered all whom he seized, Tabnit among them. It is said that 40,000
perished in the flames. A list of the kings of Sidon in ...
/s/sidon.htm - 25k

Tyre (59 Occurrences)
... Joshua 19:29). The space within the walls was crowded with buildings, and
is said to have contained 40,000 inhabitants. The town ...
/t/tyre.htm - 45k

Armenia (2 Occurrences)
... A large body of Armenian soldiers served in Xerxes' invasion of Greece. At the battle
of Arbela (331 BC), 40,000 of their infantry and 7,000 cavalry took part. ...
/a/armenia.htm - 21k

Temple (614 Occurrences)
... building, besides what was offered willingly (Ezra 1:6-11; Ezra 6:3). The relatively
small number of exiles who chose to return for this work (40,000) were led ...
/t/temple.htm - 101k

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