The Hebrew word châmêsh, represented by H2568, is the primitive numeral for five. It appears 343 times in 273 unique verses, making it a common and significant number in the biblical text. It is used for basic counting, defining measurements, and marking specific points in time, serving as a foundational element in both narrative and law.
Beyond its function as a cardinal number, H2568 also serves as the basis for related terms that extend its semantic field into concepts of division and proportion. The denominative verb H2567 châmash, for instance, carries the meaning "to take the fifth part" or "to be fivefold," as seen in the system of taxation or tribute where a fifth was exacted. This indicates that châmêsh is not merely an abstract quantity but a practical unit for administrative and economic structures within ancient Israel.
H2568 frequently combines with other numerals to form larger composite numbers, such as "five and twenty" (twenty-five) or "five hundred." This compositional flexibility underscores its fundamental role in the numerical system, allowing for the precise enumeration of years, populations, and material goods, demonstrating its pervasive influence in structuring biblical records and instructions, as seen in the detailed chronologies of Genesis and the census records.
In the biblical narrative, H2568 is used in various practical contexts. It specifies dimensions in sacred construction, such as the altar of burnt offering, which was five cubits long and five cubits broad Exodus 27:1. It is used to count groups of people and things, from the five lords of the Philistines Judges 3:3 to the five sheep Abigail brought to David 1 Samuel 25:18. The number also marks time, as when Joseph predicted there were "yet... five years of famine" Genesis 45:6 or when God added fifteen years to King Hezekiah's life Isaiah 38:5.
The numerical precision of H2568 is frequently employed in the detailed architectural specifications for sacred spaces. For instance, the dimensions of the cherubim's wings in Solomon's temple were each five cubits, extending to form a span of ten cubits 1 Kings 6:24, and the height of the temple chambers was also five cubits 1 Kings 6:10. Similarly, the construction of the court of the tabernacle specified hangings of five cubits in height Exodus 27:18, and the elaborate gate of the court measured five cubits in height Exodus 38:18. These repeated dimensions emphasize a divinely ordained regularity and order in worship structures.
Beyond construction, H2568 is central to demographic and military accounting. It often appears as a component of larger numbers when detailing the size of armies or groups of people, such as the five hundred men of Simeon who went to Mount Seir 1 Chronicles 4:42, or the five thousand men Joshua set in ambush against Ai Joshua 8:12. Even in the census conducted by David, the men of Judah were enumerated as five hundred thousand 2 Samuel 24:9, illustrating its use in large-scale administrative contexts and highlighting the strength of Israel's tribal forces.
Several related words provide a broader numerical context for H2568:
- H2572 chămishshîym (fifty): As a multiple of five, this number is used for organizing people into groups of fifties Exodus 18:21 and for marking the hallowed fiftieth year of Jubilee Leviticus 25:10.
- H6235 ʻeser (ten): Representing double the value of five, this number is foundational, seen in the ten commandments Deuteronomy 4:13 and in administrative units like rulers of tens Exodus 18:21.
- H6240 ʻâsâr (-teen): This term is combined with other numerals to form the teens. It is frequently joined with H2568 to denote the fifteenth day of the month for significant feasts like the Feast of Tabernacles Leviticus 23:34.
- H8147 shᵉnayim (two): This number is often seen in proximity to five, as in the description of a sparse harvest where "two or three berries" are left in one place and "four or five" in another Isaiah 17:6.
- H2549 chămîyshîy (fifth): This is the ordinal form of H2568, indicating position in a sequence, such as the fifth day of the month Ezekiel 1:1.
- H2567 châmash (to take the fifth part): This verb, derived from H2568, denotes the action of dividing into five parts or exacting a fifth, reflecting a practical application of the number in economic or administrative contexts.
- H2569 chômesh (a fifth part): This noun, also related to H2568, specifically refers to a division or portion equivalent to one-fifth, often used in legal or tribute settings.
The theological weight of H2568 is evident in its symbolic applications.
- Divine Favor and Grace: The number is associated with special blessing, as when Benjamin receives five changes of raiment and a mess five times larger than his brothers' from Joseph (Genesis 45:22, Genesis 43:34).
- Human Weakness and Divine Power: The number highlights the disparity between human strength and God's might. With God's help, five Israelites will chase a hundred enemies, but in disobedience, a great number will flee from just five (Leviticus 26:8, Isaiah 30:17).
- Atonement and Sacred Offerings: In a trespass offering, the Philistines return five golden emerods and five golden mice, corresponding to their five lords 1 Samuel 6:4. A sacred tribute is levied as one soul for every five hundred taken in battle Numbers 31:28.
- Order in Worship: The number five is integral to the design of the tabernacle and temple, from the altar's five-cubit dimensions to the arrangement of lavers and candlesticks in sets of five on the right and left (Exodus 27:1, 2 Chronicles 4:6-7).
- Justice and Restitution: The number H2568 is used in legal codes to stipulate penalties and restitution. For example, if a man steals an ox or a sheep, he is commanded to restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep Exodus 22:1, highlighting a divine principle of amplified recompense for wrongdoing within the covenant community.
- Divine Judgment and Conquest: The enumeration of H2568 marks significant acts of divine judgment and military conquest. Joshua's defeat and hanging of the five Amorite kings Joshua 10:5, Joshua 10:16, Joshua 10:22, Joshua 10:23, Joshua 10:26 stands as a testament to God's intervention in battle. Similarly, the miraculous destruction of one hundred fourscore and five thousand Assyrian soldiers by the angel of the LORD 2 Kings 19:35, Isaiah 37:36 showcases God's power to deliver His people through overwhelming force.
The Hebrew word H2568 châmêsh, meaning "five," is a foundational numerical term extensively employed throughout the Old Testament. Beyond its practical use in basic enumeration, measurements, and temporal markers, its significance is deeply interwoven with the theological tapestry of Scripture. From defining the precise dimensions of sacred architectural elements like the altar, temple chambers, and tabernacle court hangings, to counting populations and military forces, H2568 provides essential precision in both narrative and legal texts. Its linguistic derivatives, such as H2549 "fifth" (the ordinal form), and the verb H2567 "to take the fifth part" with its corresponding noun H2569 "a fifth part," further illustrate its role in establishing order, proportion, and administrative structures within ancient Israelite society.
The theological applications of H2568 are multifaceted, reflecting divine principles and human experience. It underscores divine favor and abundant blessing, as seen in Joseph's exceptional generosity to Benjamin, and highlights the stark contrast between human frailty and God's omnipotence, where a small number can achieve great things with divine aid or suffer greatly without it. The number also features prominently in the meticulous design of the Tabernacle and Temple, symbolizing order in worship and the sacred space for communion with God, from the altar's dimensions to the arrangement of lavers and candlesticks.
H2568 is integral to concepts of justice and restitution, with legal stipulations requiring amplified recompense for transgressions, thereby establishing a framework for equitable dealing within the community. It also serves as a numerical marker in accounts of divine judgment and conquest, where God's intervention is powerfully demonstrated through the defeat of formidable foes, such as the five Amorite kings, or miraculous acts of deliverance, as seen in the destruction of the Assyrian army. Thus, châmêsh transcends mere quantity, acting as a potent symbol of divine order, provision, justice, and power throughout the biblical narrative.
TRV