Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Numbers.
reason for the preference of this number for sacred use by Pythagoras has been found in its consisting of three—the number of the sides of the triangleand four—the sides of a square , these being the simplest rectilinear figures . Another reason
appears to be astronomical , or rather astrological , viz ., the observation of the seven planets , and the phases of the moon , changing every seventh day . In innumerable instances in the Old Testament and later Jewish writings , the number is used as a
kind of round number . In the New Testament Ave have the churches , candlesticks , stars , trumpets , spirits , all to the number - of seven , and the seven horns and seven eyes of the lamb . The same number appears again either divided into half ( 3 £ years , Rev . xii . 5 , xi . 3 , xii . 6 , & c ) , or
multiplied by ten . In tradition , fable and history , we find the Seven Wise Men , the Seven Dolours of the Virgin Mary , the Seven Sleepers , the Seven Wise Masters , the Seven Warders of the World , the Seven Years War , the Seven Champions of
Christendom , the Seven League Boots , the Seven Hills of Rome , the Seven Stars , the Seven Metals , the Seven Sons , the Seven Brothers , the Seven Sisters , seventy Israelites went to E gypt , the exile lasted seventy years , there were seventy
elders , and at a later period there were supposed to be seventy languages , and seventy nations upon the earth . Among the Greeks then seven was sacred to Apollo and Dionysos , who , according to Orphic legends was torn into seven , ieces and
p ; it Avas particularly sacred in Enboea , where tho number Avas found to pervade , as it ivere , almost every sacred , private or domestic relation , On the '
many ancient speculations Avhich connected the number seven with the human body , and the phases of its gradual development and formation , its critical periods of sicknesses—partly still extant as superstitious notions—it is unnecessary here to
dwell . The Pythagoreans made much of this number , giving it the names of Athene , Hermes , Hephaistos , Heracles , the Virgin unbegotten and unbegetting [ i . e . not to be obtained by multiplication ) Dionysos , Rex . & c .
Among the Hebrews , the etymology of the word shews its sacred import ; for from the word "shebang" [ seven ) is derived the verb " shabang " [ to swear ) , because oaths were confirmed by seven witnesses , or by seven victims offered in sacrifice ,
as we read in the covenant of Abraham and Abimelech ( Gen . xxi ., 28 ) . The radical meaning of shebang is sufficiency" or "fulness , " and the
number seven was thus denominated , because it Avas on the seventh day that God completed all His Avork of creation ; and " hence , " says Parkhurst , " seven Avas , both among believers and heathens , the number of sufficiency or completion . " There
is a frequent reference to this number in Scripture . The Sabbath ivas the seventh day . JSToah received seven days' notice of the commencement of tha Deluge , and was commanded to select clean beasts and foivls by sevens . Seven persons accompanied
him into the ark . The ark rested on Mount Ararat on the seventh month . The intervals between despatching the dove Avere , each time , seven days . The toAver of Babel was said to have been elevated seven storeys before the dispersion . The Avails of
Jericho Avere encompassed seven days , by seven priests , bearing seven ram's horns . Solomon was seven years building the Temple , which ivas dedicated in the seventh month , and the festival lasted seven days . The candlestick consisted of seven
branches . Furthermore , "If Cain be avenged sevenfold , Lamech seventy and seven . " Abraham pleaded seven times for Sodom . He gave seven ewes to Abimelech for a well of water . Jacob served seven years for Rachel , and also another
seven years . Joseph mourned seven years for Jacob . Laban pursued after Jacob seven days ' journey . The seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine were foretold in Pharoah ' s dream by seven fat and lean beasts , and seven ears of corn .. The children of Israel were to eat unleavened
bread seven days . The young of animals were to remain Avith the dam seven days , and at the close of the seventh to be taken away . By the old law _ . man Avas commanded to forgive his offending brother seven times , but the meekness of the Saviour
extended his forgiveness to seventy and seven .. The three Begalim , or Pilgrim festivals ( Passah , festival of weeks , and tabernacles ) lasted seven days ; and between the first and second of these feasts Avere counted seven weeks . The first day
of the seventh month was a " Holy Convocation . " Every seventh year ivas directed to be a year of rest for all things , and at the end of seven timesseven years commenced the jubilee . They Avereto observe a feast seven clays , after they hacl gathered
in their corn and ivine . Seven days they were to keep a solemn feast , as they had been blessed in the Avorks of their hands . Every seventh year the land lay falloiv . Every seven years there Avas a general release from old debts , and bondsmen Avere set free . Every seventh year the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Numbers.
reason for the preference of this number for sacred use by Pythagoras has been found in its consisting of three—the number of the sides of the triangleand four—the sides of a square , these being the simplest rectilinear figures . Another reason
appears to be astronomical , or rather astrological , viz ., the observation of the seven planets , and the phases of the moon , changing every seventh day . In innumerable instances in the Old Testament and later Jewish writings , the number is used as a
kind of round number . In the New Testament Ave have the churches , candlesticks , stars , trumpets , spirits , all to the number - of seven , and the seven horns and seven eyes of the lamb . The same number appears again either divided into half ( 3 £ years , Rev . xii . 5 , xi . 3 , xii . 6 , & c ) , or
multiplied by ten . In tradition , fable and history , we find the Seven Wise Men , the Seven Dolours of the Virgin Mary , the Seven Sleepers , the Seven Wise Masters , the Seven Warders of the World , the Seven Years War , the Seven Champions of
Christendom , the Seven League Boots , the Seven Hills of Rome , the Seven Stars , the Seven Metals , the Seven Sons , the Seven Brothers , the Seven Sisters , seventy Israelites went to E gypt , the exile lasted seventy years , there were seventy
elders , and at a later period there were supposed to be seventy languages , and seventy nations upon the earth . Among the Greeks then seven was sacred to Apollo and Dionysos , who , according to Orphic legends was torn into seven , ieces and
p ; it Avas particularly sacred in Enboea , where tho number Avas found to pervade , as it ivere , almost every sacred , private or domestic relation , On the '
many ancient speculations Avhich connected the number seven with the human body , and the phases of its gradual development and formation , its critical periods of sicknesses—partly still extant as superstitious notions—it is unnecessary here to
dwell . The Pythagoreans made much of this number , giving it the names of Athene , Hermes , Hephaistos , Heracles , the Virgin unbegotten and unbegetting [ i . e . not to be obtained by multiplication ) Dionysos , Rex . & c .
Among the Hebrews , the etymology of the word shews its sacred import ; for from the word "shebang" [ seven ) is derived the verb " shabang " [ to swear ) , because oaths were confirmed by seven witnesses , or by seven victims offered in sacrifice ,
as we read in the covenant of Abraham and Abimelech ( Gen . xxi ., 28 ) . The radical meaning of shebang is sufficiency" or "fulness , " and the
number seven was thus denominated , because it Avas on the seventh day that God completed all His Avork of creation ; and " hence , " says Parkhurst , " seven Avas , both among believers and heathens , the number of sufficiency or completion . " There
is a frequent reference to this number in Scripture . The Sabbath ivas the seventh day . JSToah received seven days' notice of the commencement of tha Deluge , and was commanded to select clean beasts and foivls by sevens . Seven persons accompanied
him into the ark . The ark rested on Mount Ararat on the seventh month . The intervals between despatching the dove Avere , each time , seven days . The toAver of Babel was said to have been elevated seven storeys before the dispersion . The Avails of
Jericho Avere encompassed seven days , by seven priests , bearing seven ram's horns . Solomon was seven years building the Temple , which ivas dedicated in the seventh month , and the festival lasted seven days . The candlestick consisted of seven
branches . Furthermore , "If Cain be avenged sevenfold , Lamech seventy and seven . " Abraham pleaded seven times for Sodom . He gave seven ewes to Abimelech for a well of water . Jacob served seven years for Rachel , and also another
seven years . Joseph mourned seven years for Jacob . Laban pursued after Jacob seven days ' journey . The seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine were foretold in Pharoah ' s dream by seven fat and lean beasts , and seven ears of corn .. The children of Israel were to eat unleavened
bread seven days . The young of animals were to remain Avith the dam seven days , and at the close of the seventh to be taken away . By the old law _ . man Avas commanded to forgive his offending brother seven times , but the meekness of the Saviour
extended his forgiveness to seventy and seven .. The three Begalim , or Pilgrim festivals ( Passah , festival of weeks , and tabernacles ) lasted seven days ; and between the first and second of these feasts Avere counted seven weeks . The first day
of the seventh month was a " Holy Convocation . " Every seventh year ivas directed to be a year of rest for all things , and at the end of seven timesseven years commenced the jubilee . They Avereto observe a feast seven clays , after they hacl gathered
in their corn and ivine . Seven days they were to keep a solemn feast , as they had been blessed in the Avorks of their hands . Every seventh year the land lay falloiv . Every seven years there Avas a general release from old debts , and bondsmen Avere set free . Every seventh year the