God's Counting

When Joseph interprets the cup bearer and baker's dreams in reveals an important clue: Each time God speaks a number that number is a reference to time. Since the Bible is God's word to us, all counts within the pages of the Bible are references to time.

Background

Every time Jesus spoke in public he used parables. He revealed later that the reason he spoke this way was to veil his message from everyone except those who should understand. In private the disciples were taught by Jesus just as we are when we read and pray though the Bible.

The pattern exists to this day with many of the more important points veiled in prophetic language. Understanding what the Bible says still requires private consultations with God himself in order to understand what he means. In the case of the Bible those keys to unlocking his meaning are usually simply buried within the Bible's own pages. Once such key is given in Genesis when Joseph interprets the cup bearer and baker's dreams.

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו חֲל֣וֹם חָלַ֔מְנוּ וּפֹתֵ֖ר אֵ֣ין אֹת֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם יוֹסֵ֗ף הֲל֤וֹא לֵֽאלֹהִים֙ פִּתְרֹנִ֔ים סַפְּרוּ־ נָ֖א לִֽי׃ 9וַיְסַפֵּ֧ר שַֽׂר־ הַמַּשְׁקִ֛ים אֶת־ חֲלֹמ֖וֹ לְיוֹסֵ֑ף וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בַּחֲלוֹמִ֕י וְהִנֵּה־ גֶ֖פֶן לְפָנָֽי׃ 10וּבַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה שָׂרִיגִ֑ם וְהִ֤יא כְפֹרַ֙חַת֙ עָלְתָ֣ה נִצָּ֔הּ הִבְשִׁ֥ילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶ֖יהָ עֲנָבִֽים׃ 11וְכ֥וֹס פַּרְעֹ֖ה בְּיָדִ֑י וָאֶקַּ֣ח אֶת־ הָֽעֲנָבִ֗ים וָֽאֶשְׂחַ֤ט אֹתָם֙ אֶל־ כּ֣וֹס פַּרְעֹ֔ה וָאֶתֵּ֥ן אֶת־ הַכּ֖וֹס עַל־ כַּ֥ף פַּרְעֹֽה׃ 12וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף זֶ֖ה פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹ שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ הַשָּׂ֣רִגִ֔ים שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִ֖ים הֵֽם׃ (WLC)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11And Pharaohs cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaohs cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaohs hand. 12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: (KJV)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10And in the vine were 3 branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The 3 branches are 3 days: (KJV/NC)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.

9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10and in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and its blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11and Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; (ASV)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it. And Joseph said to them, Behold, the interpretations belong to God; tell them to me. 9Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10And in the vine were three branches; and when it budded, its blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes; 11And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hands. 12And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of your dream: The three branches are three days; (LAM)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8They said to him, "We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them." And Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, I pray you."

9So the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream there was a vine before me, 10and on the vine there were three branches; as soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand." 12Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; (RSV)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8"We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

9So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand."

12"This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. (NIV)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8They said to him, 'We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.'

Joseph said to them, 'Don't interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.'

9The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, 'In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me, 10and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters of it brought forth ripe grapes. 11Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.'

12Joseph said to him, 'This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days. (WEB)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8They said to him, 'We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.'

Joseph said to them, 'Don't interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.'

9The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, 'In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me, 10and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.'

12Joseph said to him, 'This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. (WEB/HNV)

1 Genesis 40:8-12 8And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it. And Joseph said to them, Look, the interpretations belong to God; tell them to me. 9Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, look, a vine was before me; 10And in the vine were 3 branches; and when it budded, its blossoms shot forth; and the clusters brought forth ripe grapes; 11And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hands. 12And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of your dream: The 3 branches are 3 days; (BRB)

Notice something rather profound with Joseph's interpretation. The three branches are symbolic for three days. One branch per day. Stated generally:

One item per unit time.

Joseph goes on to interpret a second dream and demonstrates the same principle.

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16וַיַּ֥רְא שַׂר־ הָאֹפִ֖ים כִּ֣י ט֣וֹב פָּתָ֑ר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ יוֹסֵ֔ף אַף־ אֲנִי֙ בַּחֲלוֹמִ֔י וְהִנֵּ֗ה שְׁלֹשָׁ֛ה סַלֵּ֥י חֹרִ֖י עַל־ רֹאשִֽׁי׃ 17וּבַסַּ֣ל הָֽעֶלְיוֹ֔ן מִכֹּ֛ל מַאֲכַ֥ל פַּרְעֹ֖ה מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֹפֶ֑ה וְהָע֗וֹף אֹכֵ֥ל אֹתָ֛ם מִן־ הַסַּ֖ל מֵעַ֥ל רֹאשִֽׁי׃ 18וַיַּ֤עַן יוֹסֵף֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר זֶ֖ה פִּתְרֹנ֑וֹ שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ הַסַּלִּ֔ים שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִ֖ים הֵֽם׃ 19בְּע֣וֹד׀ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים יִשָּׂ֨א פַרְעֹ֤ה אֶת־ רֹֽאשְׁךָ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְתָלָ֥ה אוֹתְךָ֖ עַל־ עֵ֑ץ וְאָכַ֥ל הָע֛וֹף אֶת־ בְּשָׂרְךָ֖ מֵעָלֶֽיךָ׃ (WLC)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.(KJV)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had 3 white baskets on my head: 17And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The 3 baskets are 3 days: 19Yet within 3 days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.(KJV/NC)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head: 17and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days; 19within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. (ASV)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, I also saw in my dream, and, behold. I had three baskets containing white bread on my head; 17And in the uppermost basket there was of every kind of food for Pharaoh, prepared by a baker; and the birds of prey were eating it out of the basket on my head. 18And Joseph answered and said to him, This is the interpretation of your dream: The three baskets are three days; 19After three days Pharaoh shall have you beheaded, and then shall crucify you on a tree, and the birds of prey shall eat your flesh from off you. (LAM)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head." 18And Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; 19within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head--from you!--and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat the flesh from you."(RSV)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, "I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. 17In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head."

18"This is what it means," Joseph said. "The three baskets are three days. 19Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh."(NIV)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, 'I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head. 17In the uppermost basket there was all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.'

18Joseph answered, 'This is the interpretation of it. The three baskets are three days. 19Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.' (WEB)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, 'I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head. 17In the uppermost basket there was all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.'

18Joseph answered, 'This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. 19Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.' (WEB/HNV)

1 Genesis 40:16-19 16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, I also saw in my dream, and look, I had 3 baskets containing white bread on my head; 17And in the uppermost basket there was of every kind of food for Pharaoh, prepared by a baker; and the birds of prey were eating it out of the basket on my head. 18And Joseph answered and said to him, This is the interpretation of your dream: The 3 baskets are 3 days; 19After 3 days Pharaoh will have you beheaded, and then will crucify you on a tree, and the birds of prey will eat your flesh from off you. (BRB)

Here again three items, in this case three baskets become three units of time, in this case three days.

New Testament Confirmation

The same principle can be seen again in the New Testament when Jesus uses currency within the same structure. Though the general principle includes counts of money, Jesus' New Testament example reinforces the principle:

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1ܕܡܝܐ ܓܝܪ ܡܠܟܘܬܐ ܕܫܡܝܐ ܠܓܒܪܐ ܡܪܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܕܢܦܩ ܒܨܦܪܐ ܕܢܐܓܘܪ ܦܥܠܐ ܠܟܪܡܗ ܀ 2ܩܨ ܕܝܢ ܥܡ ܦܥܠܐ ܡܢ ܕܝܢܪܐ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܘܫܕܪ ܐܢܘܢ ܠܟܪܡܗ ܀ 3ܘܢܦܩ ܒܬܠܬ ܫܥܝܢ ܘܚܙܐ ܐܚܪܢܐ ܕܩܝܡܝܢ ܒܫܘܩܐ ܘܒܛܝܠܝܢ ܀ 4ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܙܠܘ ܐܦ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܠܟܪܡܐ ܘܡܕܡ ܕܘܠܐ ܝܗܒ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܀ 5ܗܢܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܐܙܠܘ ܘܢܦܩ ܬܘܒ ܒܫܬ ܘܒܬܫܥ ܫܥܝܢ ܘܥܒܕ ܗܟܘܬ ܀ 6ܘܠܐܦܝ ܚܕܥܤܪܐ ܫܥܝܢ ܢܦܩ ܘܐܫܟܚ ܐܚܪܢܐ ܕܩܝܡܝܢ ܘܒܛܝܠܝܢ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܡܢܐ ܩܝܡܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܝܘܡܐ ܟܠܗ ܘܒܛܠܝܢ ܀ 7ܐܡܪܝܢ ܠܗ ܕܠܐ ܐܢܫ ܐܓܪܢ ܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܙܠܘ ܐܦ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܠܟܪܡܐ ܘܡܕܡ ܕܘܠܐ ܢܤܒܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܀ 8ܟܕ ܗܘܐ ܕܝܢ ܪܡܫܐ ܐܡܪ ܡܪܐ ܟܪܡܐ ܠܪܒܝܬܗ ܩܪܝ ܦܥܠܐ ܘܗܒ ܠܗܘܢ ܐܓܪܗܘܢ ܘܫܪܐ ܡܢ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܘܥܕܡܐ ܠܩܕܡܝܐ ܀ 9ܘܐܬܘ ܗܢܘܢ ܕܚܕܥܤܪܐ ܫܥܝܢ ܢܤܒܘ ܕܝܢܪ ܕܝܢܪ ܀ 10ܘܟܕ ܐܬܘ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܤܒܪܘ ܕܝܬܝܪ ܫܩܠܝܢ ܘܫܩܠܘ ܕܝܢܪ ܕܝܢܪ ܐܦ ܗܢܘܢ ܀ 11ܘܟܕ ܫܩܠܘ ܪܛܢܘ ܥܠ ܡܪܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܀ 12ܘܐܡܪܝܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܚܕܐ ܫܥܐ ܥܒܕܘ ܘܐܫܘܝܬ ܐܢܘܢ ܥܡܢ ܕܫܩܠܢ ܝܘܩܪܗ ܕܝܘܡܐ ܘܚܘܡܗ ܀ 13ܗܘ ܕܝܢ ܥܢܐ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܚܕ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܚܒܪܝ ܠܐ ܡܥܘܠ ܐܢܐ ܒܟ ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܒܕܝܢܪ ܩܨܬ ܥܡܝ ܀ 14ܤܒ ܕܝܠܟ ܘܙܠ ܨܒܐ ܐܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܕܠܗܢܐ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܐܬܠ ܐܝܟ ܕܠܟ ܀ 15ܐܘ ܠܐ ܫܠܝܛ ܠܝ ܕܡܕܡ ܕܨܒܐ ܐܢܐ ܐܥܒܕ ܒܕܝܠܝ ܐܘ ܥܝܢܟ ܒܝܫܐ ܕܐܢܐ ܛܒ ܐܢܐ ܀ 16ܗܟܢܐ ܢܗܘܘܢ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܘܩܕܡܝܐ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܤܓܝܐܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܓܝܪ ܩܪܝܐ ܘܙܥܘܪܝܢ ܓܒܝܐ ܀ (SYP)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.(KJV)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about hour 3, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about hour 6 and hour 9, and did likewise. 6And about hour 11 he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about hour 11, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, These last have wrought but 1 hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13But he answered 1 of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.(KJV/NC)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; 4and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. 8And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. 10And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. 11And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, 12saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. 13But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? 14Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last.(ASV)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2He bargained with the laborers for a penny a day, and sent them to his vineyard. 3And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place. 4And he said to them, You also go to the vineyard, and I will give you what is right. And they went. 5And he went out again at the sixth and at the ninth hour, and did the same. 6And towards the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and he said to them, Why do you stand all day idle? 7They said to him, Because no man has hired us. He said to them, You also go to the vineyard, and you will receive what is right. 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and pay them their wages; and begin from the last ones to the first. 9When those of the eleventh hour came, they each received a penny. 10But when the first ones came, they expected to receive more; but they also got each one a penny. 11And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, 12Saying, These last ones have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal with us who have borne the weight of the day and its heat. 13He answered and said to one of them, My friend, I am not doing you an injustice; did you not bargain with me for a penny? 14Take what is yours and go away; I wish to give to this last one the same as to you. 15Have I no right to do what I wish with mine own? Or are you jealous because I am generous? 16Even so the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen. (LAM)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; 4and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.' 8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, 12saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16So the last will be first, and the first last."(RSV)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, `You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, `Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

7"`Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, `You also go and work in my vineyard.'

8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, `Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12`These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, `and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

13"But he answered one of them, `Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

16"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."(NIV)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1'For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4To them he said, 'YouP also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do youP stand here all day idle?'

7'They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.'

'He said to them, 'YouP also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.' 8When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

9'When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. 11When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 12saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'

13'But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius? 14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 15Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' 16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.'(WEB)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1'For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4To them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'

7'They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.'

'He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.' 8When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

9'When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius. 11When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 12saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'

13'But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius? 14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 15Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' 16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.'(WEB/HNV)

41 Matthew 20:1-16 1FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2He bargained with the laborers for a denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. 3And he went out at the 3rd hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place. 4And he said to them, You also go to the vineyard, and I will give you what is right. And they went. 5And he went out again at the 6th and at the 9th hour, and did the same. 6And towards the 11th hour he went out and found others standing idle, and he said to them, Why do you stand idle all day? 7They said to him, Because no man has hired us. He said to them, You also go to the vineyard, and you will receive what is right. 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and pay them their wages; and begin from the last ones to the first. 9When those of the 11th hour came, they each received a denarius. 10But when the first ones came, they expected to receive more; but each one also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they murmured against the householder, 12Saying, These last ones have worked only 1 hour, and you have made them equal with us who have borne the weight of the day and its heat. 13He answered and said to one of them, My friend, I am not doing you an injustice; did you not bargain with me for a denarius? 14Take what is yours and go. I wish to give to this last one the same as you. 15Do I not have the right to do what I wish with my own? Or are you jealous because I am generous? 16Even so the last will be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few are chosen. (BRB)

In this parable the rate of pay for the laborers is "a denarii a day" or one unit currency per unit time. This simply reinforces the principle of 1 count of anything mapping to 1 unit of time but it does pique our attention to look for other currency references. The best example is the Samaritan's wages to the innkeeper though the principle applies across the Bible.

An interesting side note to this principle is that certain taxes were paid at the rate of 1/2 unit currency per person and so either the person count or the currency count (or both) could be applied to individual days.

General Application

As the Bible itself is God's word to mankind, it is our collective dream, these examples suggest that every count given within the pages are references to time.

This is the principle that is required to fully understand the chronology implied at the time of Ezra and the Second Temple. Both Daniel and Jeremiah explain that the period of the exile between the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon and the return of a remnant will be 70 years. 1 2 Yet when we read the account in Ezra of the his return to dedicate the temple we find no specific date references. Instead we find references to animal counts. The following is the best example:

16 Ezra 8:35 35הַ֠בָּאִים מֵֽהַשְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־ הַגּוֹלָ֜ה הִקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹל֣וֹת׀ לֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פָּרִ֨ים שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֤ר עַל־ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֵילִ֣ים׀ תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֗ה כְּבָשִׂים֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְשִׁבְעָ֔ה צְפִירֵ֥י חַטָּ֖את שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר הַכֹּ֖ל עוֹלָ֥ה לַיהוָֽה׃ (WLC)

16 Ezra 8:35 35Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.(KJV)

16 Ezra 8:35 35Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, 12 bullocks for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.(KJV/NC)

16 Ezra 8:35 35The children of the captivity, that were come out of exile, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt-offering unto Jehovah. (ASV)

16 Ezra 8:35 35Now these are the descendants of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from captivity, who offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering to the LORD. (LAM)

16 Ezra 8:35 35At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve he-goats; all this was a burnt offering to the LORD. (RSV)

16 Ezra 8:35 35Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. (NIV)

16 Ezra 8:35 35The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh. (WEB)

16 Ezra 8:35 35The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to the LORD. (WEB/HNV)

16 Ezra 8:35 35Now these are the descendants of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from captivity, who offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, 12 bullocks for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 he-goats for a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering to Yahvah. (BRB)

Here we see Ezra's animal sacrifice activities and he is revealing the year of those actions through the counts of animals he uses. These counts are indicating the 96 years since the loss of sovereignty to Babylon and the 77 years since the loss of the city. Confirmation is found by adding 70 years, the number in exile to the year of Ezra's return.3

Census Counts

Perhaps the most impressive confirmation of this principle rests in the main census counts conducted by Moses. Here we have some of the largest numbers recorded in the Bible's pages. These counts also appear to be references to time.

The best way to see the significance of these census counts is to compare the total against the number of days in 3500 years. In both cases the result is the same:

TribeCount
Judah74,600
Issachar54,400
Zebulun57,400
Reuben46,500
Simeon59,300
Gad45,650
Ephraim40,500
Manasseh32,200
Benjamin35,400
Dan62,700
Asher41,500
Naphtali53,400
Levites, Gershon7,500
Levites, Kohath8,300
Levites, Merari6,200
Reuben43,730
Simeon22,200
Gad40,500
Judah76,500
Issachar64,300
Zebulun60,500
Manasseh52,700
Ephraim32,500
Benjamin45,600
Dan64,400
Asher53,400
Naphtali45,400
Levites23,000
Plague on 24,000
Korah's Rebellion: 252 * 5 = 1260
Korah's Rebellion recorded again:1260
Total:1,276,800
Days in a Jubilee, 50 years:18,240
Number of Jubilees: * 70 =
Total days in 70 Jubilees:1,276,800

The odds that these are simply the same by random chance is one part in the total, since this is the error, or 1 in over 1.2 million. This chart is the subject of an interactive tool that allows adjustments based on textual issues found in these census. See Moses' Census Report to play with these numbers more and view them as date references.

The census counts from Numbers are indicating that the story of the people who left Egypt and entered Canaan has something to do with 3500 years.

The day-for-a-year timeline is counting down to the 3500th anniversary to the very day from the Exodus from Egypt. The two are working to the same end.

Comments

From a logical perspective a generality like this is rather amazing. Does every reference to any count of anything indicate time? As one who as puzzled over nearly every such count I can say that my belief is that all counts really do work this way. Though I don't know exactly when every such count applies in the overall timeline, I don't doubt that with enough study all such counts will be found.

Each time God speaks a number it is a reference to time.


1Jeremiah 25:11 2   
2Daniel 9:2    
3Ezra 7:8 2