[2] This is why the number three was representative not only in the Ancient Church and in the Jewish but also among various gentile nations; see what has been stated about this number in 720, 901, 1825. That such was the origin of the meaning of 'three' is clear in Hosea,

We will return to Jehovah, for He has wounded and will heal us; He has stricken and will bind us up; He will revive us after two days, on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him. Hosea 6:-1, 2.

Here 'the third day' stands for the coming of the Lord and His resurrection. The same is clear from Jonah, in that he was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights, Jonah 1:17, to which the Lord refers in Matthew as follows,

As Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt 12: 40.

[3] It should be realized that in the internal sense of the Word 'three days' and 'the third day' have the same meaning, as also do 'three' and 'third' in the following places: In John,

Jesus said to the Jews, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 2: 19-21; Matt 26: 61; Mark 14:-58; 15: 29.

It is a well known fact that the Lord rose again on the third day.

[4] For the same reason the Lord also distinguished three periods in His life: in Luke,

Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, but on the third day I reach completion. Luke 13:-32.

Also, the Lord underwent the final temptation, which was that of the Cross, at the third hour of the day, Mark 15: 25. Three hours later, that is, at the sixth hour, darkness fell over the whole land,^a Luke 23:-44. And three hours after that, at the ninth hour, the end came, Mark 15:-33, 34, 37. But in the morning of the third day He rose again, Mark 16: 1-4; Luke 24:-7. See also Matt 16: 21; 17: 22, 23; 20: 18, 19; Mark 8: 31; 9: 31; 10: 33, 34; Luke 18:-33; 24; 46. From all this, and especially from the Lord's resurrection on the third day, the number three was representative and possessed a spiritual meaning. This fact becomes clear from the following places in the Word:

When Jehovah came down upon Mount Sinai He told Moses that he was to sanctify the people today and tomorrow and they were to wash their garments and be ready on the third day, for on the third day Jehovah would come down. Exod. 19: 10, 11, 15, 16.

When they travelled from the mountain of Jehovah on a three days' journey, the Ark of Jehovah travelled before them on the three days' journey to search out rest for them. Num 10: 33.

There was thick darkness for three days in all the land of Egypt, and nobody could see his brother for three days, but the children of Israel had light. Exod 10: 22, 23.

[5] The flesh of a sacrifice made as a vow-offering or as a freewill-offering was to be eaten on the first and the second day; nothing was to be kept until the third day but was to be burned, because it was an abomination. So too with the flesh of a sacrifice made as a 'eucharistic' offering; if this was eaten on the third day the one offering the sacrifice would not be accepted and that soul would bear his iniquity. Lev 7: 16-18; 19: 6, 7.

Anyone who touched a dead body was to purify himself on the third day, and on the seventh day he would be clean. If he did not do so that soul would be cut off from Israel. And one that was clean was to sprinkle water over the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. Num 19: 12, 13, 19.

Those who had killed someone in battle and had touched one who had been slain were to purify themselves on the third day and on the seventh day. Num 31: 19.

[6] When they came into the land of Canaan the fruit of a tree was to be uncircumcised for three years and not eaten. Lev 19: 23.

At the end of three years they were to bring every tenth part of their produce in that year and deposit it within their gates so that the Levite, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow might eat. Deut 14: 28, 29; 26: 12.

Three times a year they were to keep a feast to Jehovah. And three times a year every male person was to appear before the face of the Lord Jehovah. Exod 23: 14, 17; Deut 16: 16.

Joshua told the people that in three days they would be crossing the Jordan and inheriting the land. Josh 1: 11; 3: 2.

Jehovah called to Samuel three times and the third time he answered Him. 1 Sam 3: 8.

[7] When Saul wished to kill David, David hid in the field until the third evening. Jonathan told David, I will sound out my father on the third day from now. Jonathan said that he would shoot three arrows to the side of the stone. And David fell face to the ground, before Jonathan and bowed down three times. Sam 20: 5, 12, 19, 20, 35, 36, 41.

David was to choose one of these three things - either seven years of famine in the land, or his own flight before his enemies for three months, or pestilence in the land for three days. 2 Sam 24: 12, 13.

[8] There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. 2 Sam 21: 1.

Elijah stretched himself over the dead boy three times and revived him. 1 Kings 17: 21.

When he had built the altar to Jehovah, Elijah told them to pour water over the burnt offering and over the wood three times. 1 Kings 18: 34.

Fire consumed the captains of fifty sent on two occasions to Elijah, but not the one sent on the third occasion. 2 Kings 1: 13, 14.

It was a sign to King Hezekiah that they were to eat in that year what had grown of itself, and in the second year further growth from the same; but in the third year they were to sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of these. 2 Kings 19: 29.

[9] Daniel went into his house and had the windows open in his [upper] chamber towards Jerusalem, where three times a day he gave thanks on his knees and prayed. Dan. 6: 10, 13.

Daniel was mourning for three whole weeks, not eating pleasant bread, nor drinking wine, nor anointing himself, until the three whole weeks were completed. Dan. 10: 2, 3.

Isaiah went naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and against Cush. Isa. 20: 3.

Out of the Lampstand went three branches on either side, and three almond-shaped cups on each branch. Exod. 25: 32, 33.

In the Urim and Thummim there were three precious stones in each row. Exod. 28: 17-20.

[10] In the New Temple there were to be three chambers on this side of the gate and three on that, and all three were to measure the same. And the breadth of the gate to the vestibule of the house was to be three cubits this way and three cubits that. Ezek. 40: 10, 21, 48.

In the New Jerusalem there were to be three gates to the north, three to the east, three to the south, and three to the west. Ezek. 48: 31-34; Rev. 21: 13.

The same may be seen in the following places:

Peter denied Jesus three times. Matt. 26: 34, 69 and following verses. The Lord said to Peter three times, Do you love Me? John 21: 17.

Also, in the parable about the man who planted a vineyard, he sent servants three times, and at length his own son. Luke 20: 12; Mark 12: 2, 4-6.

The labourers in the vineyard were hired at the third hour, the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and the eleventh hour. Matt. 20: 1-17.

And concerning the fig tree which, because it bore no fruit for three years, was to be cut down. Luke 13: 6, 7.

[11] Just as a group of three and a third one were representative, so also was a third part, as in the following:

Minchahs consisted of two tenths of fine flour mixed with a third part of a hin of oil, and the wine for the drink-offering was a third of a hin. Num. 15: 6, 7; Ezek. 46: 14.

In Ezekiel it is said that he was to run a razor over his head and over his beard, and then to divide his hair, burning a third part in the fire, striking a third around the city with his sword, and scattering a third to the wind. Ezek. 5: 1, 2,11.

In Zechariah it is said that in the whole land, two parts were to be cut off, and the third would be left. Yet this third would be led through fire and tested. Zech. 13: 8, 9.

[12] In John it is said that when the first angel sounded there came hail, and fire mixed with blood; and it fell on to the earth so that a third part of the trees were burned. The second angel sounded and so to speak a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. And a third part of the sea became blood resulting in the death of a third part of the creatures who had their being in the sea. And a third part of the ships was destroyed. The third angel sounded and there fell from the sky a great star burning like a torch and it fell upon a third part of the rivers. The name of the star is Wormwood. The fourth angel sounded and a third part of the sun was struck, and a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars, so that a third part of these was blacked out, and the day had no light for a third part of it, nor likewise the night. Rev. 8: 7-12.

[13] The four angels were released to kill a third part of mankind. Rev. 9: 15.

A third part of mankind was killed by these three, fire, smoke, and brimstone, which went forth out of the mouths of the horses. Rev. 9: 18.

The dragon drew with his tail a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them down to the earth. Rev. 12: 4.

'A third part' however means something which is not yet finished, whereas 'a third' and 'a group of three' mean that which has been finished - evil in the case of the evil, good in the case of the good.

Notes