I found this interesting piece of information today while perusing the Internet. I was looking for the meaning of 2023 and 2024 in the Hebrew table of meaning for numbers. We do identify the numbers ’76 or ’68 to refer to some events within a decade, i.e. the Revolution of ’76, the Paris riots of ’68, etc. Traditionally, Hebrews did the same but within millennia ‘776 or ‘968.  For instance, 776 is “freedom”. Isn’t that suggestive?

The year we are living is thus 023, and next year is 024. Let us explore their meaning, assigned to them by sages long gone.

Coincidences in the meaning of numbers 2023 and 2024

20 (for 2023 and 2022) Twenty esrim meaning “manhood”. The age of accountability for those going to war, and worship. (Exodus 30:14; 38:26, Leviticus 27:3, Numbers 1, 1 Chronicles 23:24; 27:23. Doubling of the number ten. Maturity, accountability, being counted, expectation.

2023 esrim v’shalosh esrim v’shlosha. Based on the few Biblical passages that refer to this number, it appears that twenty-three has much to do with immorality, stubbornness, grumbling, complaining, wickedness, idolatry, etc.
Jeremiah preached repentance to an obstinate people for 23 years as the Word of the Lord came to him. (Jeremiah 25:3. Read the passage for context)

St. Paul reminds about the fall of 23,000 in the wilderness:

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (1 Corinthians 10:6-10)

2024 esrim v’arba  esrim v’arba’a [24 is also bachur “young man” the young in place of the old, foolishness in place of wisdom]. Multiple of twelve. Heavenly government and worship, dividing of time (24hrs in a day), priesthood, watchmen, all parts working together in service to GOD. On the negative end are those that oppose the government, authority, and worship of the true God. The giant with 24 fingers and toes described below best depicts this.

  • The priests were divided into 24 courses to perform their service in the Tabernacle/Temple. (1 Chronicles 24)
  • There are 24 elders around the heavenly throne in John’s vision in the Book of Revelation. (Doubling of 12)
  • Time is daily divided into 24 hour periods.
  • Watchmen (Levites, but not priests) were divided into 24 orders to guard the sanctity of the Holy Mount.
  • The Holy Land was divided into 24 districts.
  • The word shalom (peace) is found 24 times in the Torah.
  • There are 24 books in the Tanakh (Old Testament).  [Christians divide the same books differently to form 39. For example, Jews lump all twelve of the Minor Prophets together into one “book”.]
  • 24,000 died by plague for playing the harlot with the daughters of Moab before Pinchas [or Phineas, a figure of St. Michael] intervened. (Numbers 25)
  • In tradition, 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students died of plague during the Omer Count for not honoring and respecting one another.
  • David’s nephew, Jonathan, killed a giant with 24 fingers and toes. This meant that the giant had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. [A figure of the Antichrist] Since this giant opposed God and His anointed, it’s safe to assume that he followed the image of the beast (6) both inside and out.

    Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. (1 Chronicles 20:6-7)

     

In a future post we will connect these curious definitions to the prophecies of Fatima, Akita, and Garabandal.