SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NUMBER TWELVE

Twelve has always been seen as a symbolic number of organization

1. outside the Bible
   1. twelve signs of the Zodiac
   2. twelve months of the year (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS)
2. in the OT (BDB 1040 plus 797)
   1. the sons of Jacob (the Jewish tribes)
   2. reflected in
      1. twelve pillars of the altar in Exod. 24:4
      2. twelve jewels on the high priest's breastplate (which stand for the tribes) in Exod. 28:21
      3. twelve loaves of bread in the holy place of the tabernacle in Lev. 24:5
      4. twelve spies sent into Canaan in Numbers 13 (one from each tribe)
      5. twelve rods (tribal standards) at Korah's rebellion in Num. 17:2
      6. twelve stones of Joshua in Jos. 4:3,9,20
      7. twelve administrative districts in Solomon's administration in 1 Kgs. 4:7
      8. twelve stones of Elijah's altar to YHWH in 1 Kgs. 18:31
3. in the NT
   1. twelve Apostles chosen
   2. twelve baskets of bread (one for each Apostle) in Matt. 14:20
   3. twelve thrones on which NT disciples sit (referring to the 12 tribes of Israel) in Matt. 19:28
   4. twelve legions of angels to rescue Jesus in Matt. 26:53
   5. the symbolism of Revelation
      1. 24 elders on 24 thrones in 4:4
      2. 144,000 (12x12,000) in 7:4; 14:1,3
      3. twelve stars on the woman's crown in 12:1
      4. twelve gates, twelve angels reflecting the twelve tribes in 21:12
      5. twelve foundation stones of the new Jerusalem and on them the names of the twelve Apostles in 21:14
      6. twelve thousand stadia in 21:16 (size of new city, New Jerusalem)
      7. wall is 144 cubits in 21:17
      8. twelve gates of pearl in 21:21
      9. trees in new Jerusalem with twelve kinds of fruit (one for each month ) in 22:2

For a full list os symbolic numbers, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE

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