NUMBER TEN (10-1)

1. The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 10

a) It has been already pointed out that ten is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers. The first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system, and originates the system of calculation called "decimals," because the whole system of numeration consists of so many tens, of which the first is a type of the whole.

b) Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.

c) Additional commentary on the Biblical Meaning of 10 *

i) In the Bible the number 10 is used 242 times in scripture and "10th" is used 79 times. A historically significant number, 10 signifies testimony, law and responsibility.

ii) The number ten is also viewed as a complete number, as is 3, 7 and 12. Ten is made up of 4, the number of the physical creation, and 6, the number of man.

iii) In Genesis 1 we find "God said" 10 times — the testimony of God concerning His creative power. God gave the 10 Commandments to man. Ten is the number for law and man’s responsibility to keep the commandments of God. A tithe is a 10th of our earnings and is a testimony of our faith in the Lord.

iv) The Passover lamb was selected on the 10th day of the 1st month (Exodus 12:3), as was Jesus, our Passover Lamb (John 12:28-29; 1Corinthians 5:7).

v) The 10th day of the 7th month is the Day of Atonement for the children of Israel, when they received atonement for their sins.

vi) Prophetically, the day pictures the removal of Satan, the author of sin, before the millennial reign of Christ begins (Revelation 20:1-2). The last great world-ruling kingdom of man under Satan is symbolized by the 10 toes of Daniel 2 and the 10 horns of Revelation 13 and 17.

2. Noah was the tenth generation

a) Noah completed the antediluvian (before the Flood) age in the tenth generation from God creating man:

1) Adam
2) Seth
3) Enos
4) Cainan
5) Mahalaleel
6) Jared
7) Enoch
8) Methusaleh
9) Lamech
10) Noah

3. The Ten Commandments

a) The Ten Commandments contain all that is necessary, and no more than is necessary, both as to their number and their order, while the Lord's prayer is complete in ten clauses.

b) The 10 clauses of the Lord's Prayer

i) The Lord's prayer is completed in ten clauses. *

The first, God's sovereignty.
The second, God's manifested Name
The third, the realization of God's kingdom.
The fourth first mentions the earth.
The fifth, the gift of grace supplying our need.
The sixth treats of man's sin.
The seventh pleads for spiritual guidance.
The eighth pleads for final deliverance from all evil.
The ninth sums up the divine glory (32)
The tenth completes the eternal cycles.

* These clauses have the significance of their respective numbers.

ii) The Lord's prayer

9In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10Your kingdom come.
Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV)

4. The Tithes

a) The tithes represent the whole of what was due from man to God, as marking and recognizing God's claim on the whole.

b) The number 10 and redemption

i) The redemption money was ten gerahs, and thus was acknowledged both what God claimed, and what man was responsible to give. Now ten gerahs was half a shekel (Exodus 30:12-16; Numbers 3:47). Every male that was numbered, over 20 years of age, must pay this sum and meet God's claim. *

* When David numbered the people (2Samuel 24 and 1Chronicles 21), this payment was not made and God's claim was not met. Hence the judgment which followed.

ii) But the firstborn were to pay ten times as much; for when God took the Levites instead of the first-born of Israel, there were found 22,273 first-born males, but only 22,000 Levites. So that 273 had to pay the ransom money, which amounted to ten times ten gerahs. Thus, though the five shekels looked like a variation, the significance of ten is sustained, for the five shekels were ten times the "half shekel." (See Numbers 3:12,13,40-51).

5. The 10 Plagues of Egypt

a) The ten plagues were representative of the complete circle of God's judgments on Egypt. Exodus 9:14, "I will . . . send all my plagues."

6. The 10 kingdoms controlled by the Antichrist

a) Antichrist's world power is comprised in the ten kingdoms, symbolized by the ten toes on the feet of the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:41), and by the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel's vision (Daniel 7:7,20,24, etc.; Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,7,12).

7. 10 Nations

a) Ten nations imply the whole of the nations which are to be the scene of Abraham's covenant possessions (Genesis 15:19).

8. What were the 10 trials of Abraham's Faith?

a) Abraham's faith was proved by a completed cycle of ten trials: -

1) His departure from Haran.
2) His flight to Egypt from the famine.
3) In the seizure of Sarah.
4) In his war to rescue Lot.
5) In his taking Hagar.
6) In his circumcision.
7) In the second seizure of Sarah at Gerar.
8) In the expulsion of Ishmael.
9In the expulsion of Hagar.
10) In the offering of Isaac.

9. The Ten Rebellions of Israel

a) The ten rebellions of Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 14:22) mark the completed series of Israel's perversities (wrongly self-willed or stubborn).

10. The Temple's Silver Sockets

a) The silver sockets which formed the foundation of the Tabernacle were 10 x 10 (Exodus 38:27). These were made of silver, and silver is significant of redemption (1Peter 1:18,19) *

* Ten also completed the number of the curtains (Exodus 26:1).

11. When did FIRE come down from Heaven?

a) Fire came down from heaven ten times, six of which were in judgment: -

1) Genesis 19:24, on Sodom.
2) Leviticus 9:24, on the first offerings.
3) Leviticus 10:2, on Nadab and Abihu.
4) Numbers 11:1, on the murmurers at Taberah.
5) Numbers 16:35, on Korah and his company.
6) 1Kings 18:38, on Elijah's offering at Carmel.
7) 2Kings 1:10, on Elijah's enemies.
8)!2Kings 1:12, on Elijah's enemies.
9) 1 Chronicles 21:26, on David's sacrifice.
10) 2 Chronicles 7:1, on Solomon's sacrifice.

12. What were the 10 times the people shouted for JOY?

1) Leviticus 9:24, when the fire from heaven consumed the first sacrifices.
2) Joshua 6:20, at the taking of Jericho.
3) 1 Samuel 4:5, when the Ark was brought into the camp.
4) 1 Samuel 10:24, when Saul was chosen king.
5) 1 Samuel 17:20, when Israel went to fight the Philistines.
6) 1 Samuel 17:52, when pursuing them.
7) 2 Samuel 6:15 (1Chronicles 15:28), when the Ark was brought back from the house of Obed-edom.
8) 2 Chronicles 13:15, when God smote Jeroboam before Abijah.
9) 2 Chronicles 15:14, when Asa and the people heard Oded's prophecy.
10) Ezra 3:11, when the foundation of the second Temple was laid.