SEVENTEEN (17) IN THE BIBLE

1. Number SEVENTEEN in the Bible

a) Joseph, a young man of seventeen... "Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites..." (Genesis 37:2, 27)

i) Seventeen stands out as a significant number because it is not a multiple of any other number.

ii) Seventeen has no factors.

iii) Seventeen is last of the seven prime or indivisible numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 and 17).

iv) Seventeen is the sum of two perfect numbers, seven and ten.

b) Therefore, seventeen is a combination of spiritual perfection and ordinal perfection. An example of this perfect union in the Bible is that of Joseph who at the age of seventeen was sold into slavery by his brothers.

c) The story of Joseph also illustrates that seventeen signifies the beginning of temptation. At seventeen, temptation began to surround Joseph in every direction, but he did not take his eyes off the God he served. Let us do likewise.

d) The union of spiritual perfection and ordinal perfection is clearly seen when Joseph is made second in command in Egypt. He then becomes available to help those who did evil to put him there in the first place. Joseph was able to say to his brothers: "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)