NUMBERS EIGHT & THIRTEEN (8-13-6)

0. Introduction

a) The numbers eight and thirteen together that we may afterwards compare and contrast the two. But it is when we come to Gematria (substituting numbers for letters) that the most wonderful results are seen. These results may be stated thus, briefly: That the names of the LORD's people are multiples of eight, while the names of those who apostatized, or rebelled, or who were in any sense His enemies, are multiples of thirteen. It is interesting to note what other mention(s) for 8 and13 together can be found in the Bible.

1. How many people died in Korah's Rebellion?

a) The number of those who died in Korah's rebellion was 250 + 14700 = 14950 (13x1150). See Numbers 16:35,49.

b) Thirteen and the Valley of Hinnom

i) The valley of Hinnom (or of the son or children of Hinnom) occurs 13 times. It was the scene of the idolatrous and inhuman rites of Moloch introduced by Solomon (1Kings 11:7). The casting of children into the fire in that valley made it the fit symbol of the future punishment of sinners, who are to be cast into the lake of fire, and gave rise to the word Gehenna or Valley of Hinnom. The 13 occurrences, which contain the whole history of the valley, are worthy of connected study (Joshua 15:8,18, 18:16, twice; 2Kings 23:10; 2Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Nehemiah 11:30; Jeremiah 7:31,32, 19:2,6, 32:35).

c) Thus the two numbers 8 and 13 are like two threads--gold and crimson--which run through the whole of Divine Revelation, continually crossing and re-crossing each other.

d) There is, however, one very important branch of this part of our subject still remaining.