Why is the number 7 so important in the Bible?

Answer 1

Numerology was of great importance to the ancient Jews, and the number 7 and its multiples were particularly significant. There were four quarters of seven days in the moon's cycle, therefore seven days in a week - an invention of the Semitic people of the ancient Near East.

Two prominent examples of the use of the number seven and its multiple, fourteen, occur in the gospels. Both Matthew and Luke use numerology, with a pattern of sevens 'proving' that Jesus was the messiah. Matthew demonstrates that there were 14 generations: from Abraham to David; from David to Josiah; from Josiah to Jesus. To do this, he had to ignore 3 kings in the Old Testament and have David in the preceding (as 14) and following (as 1) groups, but not so Josiah. Luke had great men occur in multiples of 7 generations starting from Adam, with: Enoch at 7; Abraham at 21; David at 35; Jesus at 77. He also had: Joseph at 42 and 70; Jesus (Jose) at 49. To do this, he had to insert his own fictitious people into the Old Testament list: Kainan at 13; Admin at 28.