The number 14 appears frequently in Scripture. In Genesis 31, Yaakov reminds Lavan, probably with mixed feelings, that he served him for 14 years for his two daughters and that Lavan changed his wages 10 times. In Genesis 46, Scripture reminds us that Rachel was directly and indirectly responsible for 14 souls born to Yaakov: their two sons, Yoseph and Benyamin; Yoseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasheh; and Benyamin’s ten sons whose names are mentioned in Genesis 46:21. Fourteen year-old lambs had to be sacrificed on every day of the Feast of Tabernacles; Passover had to be held on the 14th day of the First month; Solomon (Shelomo) held a festival of 14 days after the dedication of the temple; and according to 1 Chronicles 25, Yahweh gave Heman, the king’s personal seer, 14 sons “to strengthen him” (also in his work as a prophet). And, speaking of “strengthening,” Aviyah, one of the kings of Israel and bearer of one of the most beautiful names, strengthened himself by taking 14 wives for himself, according to 2 Chronicles 13. Whether he was 14 times stronger than the other kings is difficult to determine! And then Matthew 1 tells us that in the Messiah’s genealogy there were 14 generations from Avraham to David, another 14 generations from David to the Babylonian captivity, and a further 14 generations from the captivity to the birth of the Messiah.
In Exodus 15 one can almost hear the song that the people sang after they crossed the Red Sea. In Exodus 14 this miraculous crossing is described. Exodus 14 concludes with verse 31, which is simultaneously a summary of chapter 14 and an introduction for the song of chapter 15. This last verse of chapter 14 says three things about Israel, while mentioning the Name “Yahweh” 3 times: (1) They beheld the miracle of Yahweh (2) They feared Yahweh (3) They believed in Yahweh. And in the preceding 30 verses of chapter 14—the actual portion that gave rise to this summary and the song—the name of Yahweh is used 14 times. One easily forgets how absolutely decisive the Name of Yahweh was for the people back then when they saw His mighty deeds in Egypt and in the wilderness! And even more so when one reads a Bible in which this exalted Name is omitted and merely replaced with a title like “Lord”. The Name “Yahweh” is used on average 7 times in every chapter of the Pre-Messianic portion of Scripture! That is to say: Bibles that render the Name as “Lord” have omitted an “item” 7 times per chapter of the Pre-Messianic Scriptures (on average). What is this “item”? The most important item imaginable – the Name of the Author who is not only the One BEHIND the Scriptures, but also the One WHOM the Scriptures are about!
To come back to the number 14. The Name of Yahweh occurs 14 times in Genesis 24. Genesis 24 is the chapter concerning Avraham sending his servant, Eliezer, to seek a wife for Isaac. What is so special about this chapter is that Yahweh is sometimes called the Elohim of heaven, sometimes the Elohim of heaven and earth, and sometimes the Elohim of Avraham. Have you ever thought what an outstanding privilege it is to call the Elohim of heaven and earth YOUR Elohim, and to be able to call Him by His Name, just as Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov knew Him as THEIR Elohim and called Him by His Name? Nothing in this life counts more than that! Another chapter in which the Name of Yahweh occurs 14 times is Exodus 6. This chapter contains the controversial verse which is translated by some Bibles as: “I appeared to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov as El Shaddai, but by my Name Yahweh, I did NOT make Myself known to them.” We know three things, however: (1) These three patriarchs definitely knew Yahweh’s Name and regularly called upon Him by this Name, (2) Sentences that look like statements in Hebrew must sometimes be translated as questions, and (3) If this verse is translated as a question, there is no contradiction with other portions of Scripture. Another chapter in which the Name of Yahweh occurs 14 times is Numbers 17, which describes the miracle of Aaron’s (Aharon’s) staff that sprouted overnight with buds and blossoms and even ripe almonds. In most non-Hebrew Bibles this chapter consists of only 13 verses, but in the Hebrew text, the last 15 verses of chapter 16 are actually part of Numbers 17, so that Numbers 17 does not consist of 13 verses, but 28 (2 times 14), with the Name of Yahweh occurring exactly 14 times in Numbers 17, according to the most original verse numbering. May His Name bring an aspect of life and beauty into our lives, like the buds and almonds on Aaron’s staff!
One of the few names in Scripture with a numerical value of 14 is the name David. What a strong influence the legacy of David has had on each of our lives! Think of the treasure of inspiring Psalms he left behind for us and our connection with him through our relationship with Y’shua of Nazareth who came from his lineage. Think of 1 Samuel 17:14 which tells us that David was the youngest of his brothers and of the fact that this youngest one, not his older brothers who were already part of Shaul’s army, offered to fight against Goliath and that he articulated his simple strategy towards Goliath: “I come to you in the Name of Yahweh!” From David we learn of the power of Yahweh’s Name. Think of 1 Samuel 18:14 which tells us David was prosperous in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him. Is there anything more or better that we can desire from the hand of Yahweh? From David we learn of the secret of prosperity. Think of 1 Samuel 20:14 where Jonathan asks David to show him THE KINDNESS OF YAHWEH, just as you and I, 3000 years later, asked David’s descendant, Y’shua, to show us also the kindness of Yahweh. From David we learn about the meaning of kindness. Think of 1 Samuel 22:14 where a priest named Achimelech gives one of the most beautiful testimonials regarding David that there could surely be: “Who among all the king’s servants is as faithful as David?” From David we learn about faithfulness. Think of 1 Samuel 23:14 which tells us that Shaul searched everywhere for David to kill him, but that Yahweh did NOT deliver him into his hand. From David we learn about Yahweh’s protection.
Think of 1 Samuel 24:14 where David, despite everything, refuses to lift his hand against king Shaul and, in the process, begins his own kingship, not by taking the life of his predecessor, but by sparing the life of his predecessor. From David we learn of integrity and forgiveness. Think of 2 Samuel 6:14 which describes lavishly how he danced WITH ALL HIS MIGHT before the face of Yahweh and what new understanding David’s unabashed praise brought for us in our worship before Yahweh. From David we learn about praise. Think of 2 Samuel 7:14 where Yahweh says these words to David: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be a son to Me,” and herewith lays the foundation for one of the greatest things that Y’shua, the Son of Elohim, came to do for us and which is worded, among others, in the well-known John 1:12: “To all who received him (Y’shua); he gave the power to become children of Elohim.” From David we learn of the most remarkable Father-child relationship that exists. Think of 2 Samuel 8:14 which tells us that Yahweh gave David the victory wherever he went. How totally differently victory is represented herein, compared to the world’s model of “If YOU win, YOU are esteemed”? From David we learn of the proper way to win and of “giving honour where honour is due.”
In Psalm 14 David says something that fits better in our modern world than the world of his day: “The fool says in his heart: There is no Elohim.” Many people say this today in their hearts as well. They do not express it aloud, but they believe it in their heart. And in the process, life for such people loses its sense, meaning and flavour. What a privilege to be able to say like David in Psalm 18:14: The Most High let His voice be heard and that voice has reached my ears. And that is enough for me. HE is enough for me! He is my El Shaddai! (Literally: the El who is ENOUGH—the numerical value of “dai” is 14). David’s Psalm 14 has only 7 verses. But the reverse of 14 is 41. Psalm 41 is also a Psalm of David. And today we can embrace Psalm 41:14 with all our heart: “Blessed be Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amain and amain!”
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