What does the number 20 represent in the Bible?

Answer 1

There is a chronological contrivance based on multiples of twenty in the Book of Judges. The numbers of years of peace brought about by each of the major judges, or the number of years of their ruling, is in each case a multiple of 20. We also find something similar with Kings David and Solomon.

• After Othniel's defeat of Cushan-rishathaim, Israel had 40 years of peace (3.11);
• After Ehud, it remained free of strife for 80 years (3.30);
• After Deborah, for 40 years (5.31);
• After Gideon, for 40 years (8.28);
• Samson is said to have judged Israei for 20 years (15.20;16.31);
• Eli the priest reports that he judged Israel for 40 years (1 Sam. 4.18);
• King David ruled for 40 years (1 Kings 2:11);
• King Solomon also ruled for exactly 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).

Although there are numerous examples of the use of numerology in The Bible, these are probably not examples of numerology. It is much more likely that epic stories of each of the major judges and of David and Solomon were passed down orally from generation to generation and that simple multiples of twenty years were used because they were easy to remember.