The number seven is consecrated, in the holy books and in the
religion of the Jews, by a great number of events and mysterious
circumstances. God created the world in the space of seven days, and
consecrated the seventh day to repose. This rest of the seventh day,
according to St. Paul, Heb. iv, 4, intimates eternal rest. And not only
the seventh day is honoured among the Jews, by the repose of the
Sabbath, but every seventh year is also consecrated to the rest of the
earth, by the name of a sabbatical year; as also the seven times seventh
year, or forty-ninth year, is the year of jubilee. In the prophetic
style, a week often stands for seven years, Dan. ix, 24–26. Jacob served
his father-in-law Laban seven years for each of his daughters. Pharaoh’s
mysterious dream represented to his imagination seven fat oxen, and
seven lean ones; seven full ears of corn, and as many that were empty
and shrivelled. These stood for seven years of plenty, and seven of
scarcity. The number of seven days is observed in the octaves of the
great solemnities of the passover, of tabernacles, and of the dedication
of the tabernacle and the temple; the seven branches of the golden
candlestick, the number of seven sacrifices appointed on several
occasions, Numbers xxvii, 11; xxix, 17–21, &c. Seven trumpets, seven
priests that sounded them, seven days to surround the walls of Jericho,
Joshua vi, 4, 6, 8. In the Revelation, are the seven churches, seven
candlesticks, seven spirits, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals,
seven angels, seven phials, seven plagues, &c. In certain passages, the
number seven is put for a great number. Isaiah, iv, 1, says that seven
women should lay hold on one man, to ask him to marry them. Hannah, the
mother of Samuel, says, 1 Sam. ii, 5, that she who was barren should
have seven children. Jeremiah, xv, 9, makes use of the same expression.
God threatens his people to smite them seven times for their
transgressions, Lev. xxvi, 24, that is to say several times. The
Psalmist, speaking of very pure silver, says it is “purified seven
times,” Psalm xii, 6. And elsewhere, “Render unto our neighbours
sevenfold into their bosom,” Psalm lxxix, 12; punish them severely, and
as often as they deserve it. The slayer of Cain was to be punished seven
times; but of Lamech seventy times seven times, Gen. iv, 15, 24. The
slothful man thinks himself wiser than seven men, that set forth
proverbs, Prov. xxvi, 16; he thinks himself of more worth than many wise
men. St. Peter asks our Saviour, Matthew xviii, 21, 22, How many times
should he forgive his brother? till seven times? And Christ answers him,
I say not only seven times, but seventy times seven; meaning, as often
as he may offend, however frequent it may be.
religion of the Jews, by a great number of events and mysterious
circumstances. God created the world in the space of seven days, and
consecrated the seventh day to repose. This rest of the seventh day,
according to St. Paul, Heb. iv, 4, intimates eternal rest. And not only
the seventh day is honoured among the Jews, by the repose of the
Sabbath, but every seventh year is also consecrated to the rest of the
earth, by the name of a sabbatical year; as also the seven times seventh
year, or forty-ninth year, is the year of jubilee. In the prophetic
style, a week often stands for seven years, Dan. ix, 24–26. Jacob served
his father-in-law Laban seven years for each of his daughters. Pharaoh’s
mysterious dream represented to his imagination seven fat oxen, and
seven lean ones; seven full ears of corn, and as many that were empty
and shrivelled. These stood for seven years of plenty, and seven of
scarcity. The number of seven days is observed in the octaves of the
great solemnities of the passover, of tabernacles, and of the dedication
of the tabernacle and the temple; the seven branches of the golden
candlestick, the number of seven sacrifices appointed on several
occasions, Numbers xxvii, 11; xxix, 17–21, &c. Seven trumpets, seven
priests that sounded them, seven days to surround the walls of Jericho,
Joshua vi, 4, 6, 8. In the Revelation, are the seven churches, seven
candlesticks, seven spirits, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals,
seven angels, seven phials, seven plagues, &c. In certain passages, the
number seven is put for a great number. Isaiah, iv, 1, says that seven
women should lay hold on one man, to ask him to marry them. Hannah, the
mother of Samuel, says, 1 Sam. ii, 5, that she who was barren should
have seven children. Jeremiah, xv, 9, makes use of the same expression.
God threatens his people to smite them seven times for their
transgressions, Lev. xxvi, 24, that is to say several times. The
Psalmist, speaking of very pure silver, says it is “purified seven
times,” Psalm xii, 6. And elsewhere, “Render unto our neighbours
sevenfold into their bosom,” Psalm lxxix, 12; punish them severely, and
as often as they deserve it. The slayer of Cain was to be punished seven
times; but of Lamech seventy times seven times, Gen. iv, 15, 24. The
slothful man thinks himself wiser than seven men, that set forth
proverbs, Prov. xxvi, 16; he thinks himself of more worth than many wise
men. St. Peter asks our Saviour, Matthew xviii, 21, 22, How many times
should he forgive his brother? till seven times? And Christ answers him,
I say not only seven times, but seventy times seven; meaning, as often
as he may offend, however frequent it may be.