Fifty

From: The Numerals Of Scripture By: Edward C. Pressland

• 2 min. read • grade level: 10

Fifty, 5x10, combines the two thoughts of responsibility in respect of both God and man.

So the veil (Christ) is hung in the Tabernacle under the 50 taches of gold; for, to bring us to God by His flesh through death (rent), He must stand under the weight of every responsibility and bear all.

Abraham begins his petitions by asking if "fifty righteous" be in the city. Is not the true character of righteousness in such a combination of 5 and 10?

At the age of 50, the Levites ceased to serve, their responsibilities being now filled up (Num. 8:24-26²⁴This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: ²⁵And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: ²⁶But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge. (Numbers 8:24‑26)).

Every 50th year was the Jubilee, when all responsibilities of possessions were reinstated and cleared (Lev. 25:10¹⁰And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. (Leviticus 25:10)).

Fifty days were to be reckoned from waving the first sheaf of harvest (the morrow after the seventh Sabbath) to the presentation of the wave loaves (Lev. 23:15-16¹⁵And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: ¹⁶Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:15‑16)). Christ having ascended forty days after resurrection, ten days more when Pentecost was fully come, He gave the promise of the Father (the Holy Ghost) and the church was formed. The full responsibility of this is seen in the Spirit's power at the end of 50 days after resurrection.

In 2 Kings 2:7 50 sons of the prophets stood to view Elijah and Elishah cross Jordan. And in 2:15-18, 50 were sent to find Elijah.

Fifty Gileadites were killed with Pekahiah by Pekah in 2 Kings 15:25²⁵But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room. (2 Kings 15:25).

1 Kings 1:5⁵Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. (1 Kings 1:5), Adonijah prepared 50 men to run before him, as well as chariots and horsemen.

Obadiah hid the prophets of the Lord by fifty in a cave (1 Kings 18:4⁴For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) (1 Kings 18:4)).

Hazael left to Jehoahaz "but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen" (2 Kings 13:7⁷Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing. (2 Kings 13:7)).

Lev. 27:3³And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. (Leviticus 27:3). The estimation of a male, who made a singular vow, when in the full energy of life from twenty to sixty years old, was to be 50 shekels.

2 Kings 15:20²⁰And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land. (2 Kings 15:20). Menahem exacted 50 shekels of silver from each rich man, to give to the king of Assyria.

In Esther 7:9⁹And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. (Esther 7:9), Haman built a gallows 50 cubits high.

2 Kings 1:9⁹Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. (2 Kings 1:9), etc. Three times a captain with 50 men was sent by the king to bring Elijah.