The number twenty-two holds various significances in the Bible, appearing in different contexts and narratives. While not as frequently mentioned as some other numbers, it still carries symbolic and historical importance within the biblical text.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Reign of Kings: The number twenty-two is notably associated with the reigns of certain kings in the Old Testament. For instance, King Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division, reigned for twenty-two years. In 1 Kings 14:20 , it is recorded: "The length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years, and he rested with his fathers, and his son Nadab reigned in his place."

2. King Ahab: Another significant mention is King Ahab of Israel, who also reigned for twenty-two years. Ahab is known for his marriage to Jezebel and his promotion of Baal worship, which led to significant conflict with the prophet Elijah. In 1 Kings 16:29 , it states: "In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years."

3. Symbolic Use: In biblical numerology, the number twenty-two is sometimes seen as representing completeness or a full set, as it is the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This symbolic interpretation can be seen in the structure of certain biblical texts, such as Psalm 119, which is an acrostic poem using all twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Genealogical Significance

In the genealogies recorded in the Bible, the number twenty-two can also be found. For example, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, there are twenty-two generations from Adam to Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary (Luke 3:23-38).

Theological Implications

Theologically, the number twenty-two can be seen as a representation of God's order and completeness. The use of the full Hebrew alphabet in Psalm 119, for instance, underscores the perfection and comprehensiveness of God's law and His Word. This aligns with the conservative Christian view that Scripture is divinely inspired and complete in its revelation of God's will and character.

Conclusion

While the number twenty-two may not be as prominent as other numbers in the Bible, its occurrences in the reigns of kings and its symbolic use in Scripture contribute to the rich tapestry of biblical numerology and theology. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the completeness of His divine revelation.8147. shenayim -- two (a cardinal number)
... 7), second (11), second time (1), sixty-two* (4), thirty-second* (2), thirty-two*
(7), twelfth* (22), twelve* (93), twenty-second* (2), twenty-two* (10), twice ...
/hebrew/8147.htm - 7k

6242. esrim -- twenty
... nine* (6), twenty-one* (4), twenty-second* (2), twenty-seven* (1), twenty-seventh*
(6), twenty-sixth* (1), twenty-third* (7), twenty-three* (6), twenty-two* (9 ...
/hebrew/6242.htm - 6k

705. arbaim -- forty
... 73), forty times (1), forty-eight* (2), forty-first* (1), forty-five* (2),
forty-nine* (1), forty-one* (4), forty-seven* (1), forty-two* (3), twenty-two* ( ...
/hebrew/705.htm - 6k

Chapter twenty-two
... Chapter Twenty-two. Felicia started off to the play not very happy, but she was
familiar with that feeling, only sometimes she was more unhappy than at others. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-two.htm

Question Twenty-Two of Divine Providence
... Question Twenty-Two OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE Four questions
are asked concerning divine providence.1. Whether providence ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/question twenty-two of divine providence.htm

Waiting on the Lord
... TALK TWENTY-TWO. WAITING ON THE LORD. Some people are always in a hurry about
things. If they want to do something or to have something ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-two waiting on the.htm

The Goobbe Circuit Recommenced.
... CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. THE GOOBBE CIRCUIT RECOMMENCED. In the course of three
or four years there was an improvement in the pecuniary ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter twenty two the goobbe.htm

The Apology of the Augsburg Confession
... Fourteen of the Augustana Part Twenty: Article Fifteen of the Augustana Part
Twenty-One: Article Sixteen of the Augustana Part Twenty-Two: Article Seventeen ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/title page.htm

Wesleyan or English Methodist Missionary Society.
... In 1840, this society had, in the West Indies, fifty missionary stations; in British
North America, eighty-four stations; in Asia, twenty-two,; in the South ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/wesleyan or english methodist missionary.htm

Concerning Scripture .
... For there are twenty-two letters of which five are double, and so they come to be
twenty-seven. For the letters Caph, Mem, Nun, Pe [2528] , Sade are double. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xvii concerning scripture.htm

The Books of Samuel and Kings.
... That the Hebrews have twenty-two letters is testified by the Syrian and Chald??an
languages which are nearly related to the Hebrew, for they have twenty-two ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the books of samuel and.htm

The Commentaries which He Prepared at Alexandria.
... first five while in Alexandria. Of his work on the entire Gospel only
twenty-two volumes have come down to us. 2. In the ninth of ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxiv the commentaries which he.htm

The Manner in which Josephus Mentions the Divine Books.
... 1. [675] "We have not, therefore, a multitude of books disagreeing and conflicting
with one another; but we have only twenty-two, which contain the record of ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter x the manner in which.htm

Twenty-two (26 Occurrences)
Twenty-two. Twenty-three, Twenty-two. Twice . Multi-Version
Concordance Twenty-two (26 Occurrences). Numbers 3:39 All ...
/t/twenty-two.htm - 14k

Valor (45 Occurrences)
... heads of their fathers' houses, to wit, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their
generations: their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred ...
/v/valor.htm - 21k

Listed (48 Occurrences)
... 3:43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old
and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two ...
/l/listed.htm - 21k

122 (2 Occurrences)
... 122 (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:27 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two. (See
NAS NIV). Nehemiah 7:31 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. ...
/num/122.htm - 6k

Uzzi (11 Occurrences)
... heads of their fathers' houses, to wit, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their
generations: their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred ...
/u/uzzi.htm - 12k

Jair (14 Occurrences)
... (2.) The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. ... Judges 10:3
After him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. ...
/j/jair.htm - 14k

Michmas (11 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:27 The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS
YLT NAS RSV). Nehemiah 7:31 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. ...
/m/michmas.htm - 10k

Twenty (282 Occurrences)
... the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their
families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand ...
/t/twenty.htm - 40k

Males (51 Occurrences)
... the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their
families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand ...
/m/males.htm - 22k

Amon (20 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 21:19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
two years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter ...
/a/amon.htm - 18k

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