Biblical Significance:

The number fifty-five appears in the Bible primarily in the context of ages and reigns, often symbolizing a period of governance or life span. It is not as frequently mentioned as other numbers, but it holds significance in the narratives where it appears.

King Manasseh's Reign:

The most notable mention of the number fifty-five in the Bible is in reference to the reign of King Manasseh of Judah. According to 2 Kings 21:1 , "Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah." Manasseh's reign is marked as the longest of any king in the history of Judah or Israel. His rule is characterized by a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh, as he introduced idolatry and pagan practices into the kingdom, which had lasting consequences for Judah.

Spiritual Implications:

Manasseh's fifty-five-year reign is often viewed as a period of spiritual decline for Judah. Despite his long rule, the Bible records that his actions provoked the Lord to anger, as he led the people away from the covenantal faithfulness expected of them. This period is a reminder of the impact of leadership on the spiritual health of a nation and the importance of adhering to God's commandments.

Repentance and Restoration:

Interestingly, the account of Manasseh also includes a narrative of repentance. In 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 , it is recorded that during his captivity in Babylon, Manasseh sought the Lord and humbled himself greatly. "And when he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty, heard his plea, and brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God." This aspect of his account highlights the themes of repentance and divine mercy, demonstrating that even those who stray far from God can find forgiveness and restoration if they genuinely turn back to Him.

Numerological Considerations:

In biblical numerology, numbers often carry symbolic meanings. While the number fifty-five does not have a widely recognized symbolic interpretation, it can be seen as a combination of the number five, which is often associated with God's grace, and the number fifty, which can symbolize jubilee or deliverance. Thus, the number fifty-five might be interpreted as a period where grace and deliverance are possible, even amidst prolonged disobedience.

Historical Context:

The historical context of Manasseh's reign is crucial for understanding the significance of the number fifty-five. His rule came after the reforms of his father, King Hezekiah, and before the reforms of his grandson, King Josiah. The contrast between these reigns underscores the cyclical nature of faithfulness and apostasy in the history of Judah, with Manasseh's fifty-five years serving as a pivotal period of challenge and eventual repentance.

Conclusion:

The number fifty-five, as seen in the biblical account of King Manasseh, serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of leadership, the consequences of turning away from God, and the ever-present opportunity for repentance and redemption.2572. chamishshim -- fifty
... 59,300* (2), 603,550* (3), 650* (1), 652* (2), 655* (1), 956* (1), fifties (6),
fiftieth (3), fifty (87), fifty with their fifties (1), fifty-five (2), fifty ...
/hebrew/2572.htm - 6k

Getting Even
... TALK FIFTY-FIVE. GETTING EVEN. "I'll get even with that fellow if it takes
ten years." Thus declared a man about another who had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifty-five getting even.htm

The Catechism of Geneva. AD 1536 and 1541.
... II.-pp.139-272; also in Horatius Bonar: Catechisms of the Scotch Reformation
(Lond.1866), pp.4-88. It is divided into fifty-five Sundays. St??helin: Joh. ...
/.../ 58 the catechism of.htm

Heart Talks
... TALK FIFTY-THREE. THREE TESTS OF LOVE. TALK FIFTY-FOUR. TWO WAYS OF RISING. TALK
FIFTY-FIVE. GETTING EVEN. TALK FIFTY-SIX. DO YOU KNOW YOURSELF? TALK FIFTY-SEVEN ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/

Universalists.
... to those in the United States, there are, at present, the grand total of one General
Convention, twelve State Conventions, fifty-five Associations, eight ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/universalists 2.htm

The Liberty of Obedience
... every time. You don't see why it can't be fifty-five just once, or possibly
fifty-seven. But, no, sir; it is always fifty-six. When ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the liberty of obedience.htm

Manasseh
... They hurry over the fifty-five years; they crowd them into half a chapter, as if
they were ashamed to dwell upon them, as if they wanted the memory of them and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/manasseh.htm

Moravian Missions.
... seven missionaries and assistants, seventeen thousand seven hundred and three
communicants, and fifty-seven thousand two hundred and fifty-five souls under ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/moravian missions.htm

A Description of the Temple.
... then this house, as it was divided into two parts, the inner part was lower than
the appearance of the outer, and had golden doors of fifty-five cubits altitude ...
/.../chapter 5 a description of 2.htm

Introduction
... Notwithstanding the prohibition of the provincial, fifty-five electors recorded
their votes in favour of the Saint and were immediately declared excommunicated ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/introduction.htm

Babylon.
... It was fifty five miles in circuit, square, surrounded by a wall eighty-seven feet
thick, and three hundred and fifty high, with houses and a street on the top ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xi babylon.htm

Fifty-five (3 Occurrences)
Fifty-five. Fifty, Fifty-five. Fifty-four . Multi-Version Concordance
Fifty-five (3 Occurrences). 2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh ...
/f/fifty-five.htm - 7k

Fifty (131 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hephzibah. ...
/f/fifty.htm - 39k

Homer (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A Hebrew measure containing, as a liquid measure, ten baths, equivalent
to fifty-five gallons, two quarts, one pint; and, as a dry measure, ten ephahs ...
/h/homer.htm - 9k

655 (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance 655 (1 Occurrence). Nehemiah 7:20 The children
of Adin, six hundred fifty-five. (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/655.htm - 6k

Fifty-four (7 Occurrences)
Fifty-four. Fifty-five, Fifty-four. Fifty-nine . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB BBE DBY RSV). Fifty-five, Fifty-four. Fifty-nine . Reference Bible.
/f/fifty-four.htm - 8k

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)
... The ten tribes, after existing as a separate kingdom for two hundred and fifty-five
years, were carried captive (BC 721) by Shalmaneser (or Sargon), king of ...
/d/dispersion.htm - 44k

Musician (112 Occurrences)
... Musician, Chief. (Hebrews menatstseah), the precentor of the Levitical choir or
orchestra in the temple, mentioned in the titles of fifty-five psalms, and in ...
/m/musician.htm - 39k

Captivity (141 Occurrences)
... (2 Kings 17:24). Thus terminated the kingdom of the ten tribes, after a separate
duration of two hundred and fifty-five years (BC 975-721). ...
/c/captivity.htm - 79k

Ruling (123 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king; for
fifty-five years he was ruling in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzi-bah. ...
/r/ruling.htm - 37k

Manasseh (140 Occurrences)
... of Judah. He was twelve years old when he began to reign (2 Kings 21:1),
and he reigned fifty-five years (BC 698-643). Though he ...
/m/manasseh.htm - 68k

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