The number forty-five appears in the Bible in various contexts, often symbolizing periods of time or quantities. In biblical numerology, numbers can carry symbolic meanings, and while forty-five is not as prominent as numbers like seven or forty, it still holds significance in certain passages.

Biblical References:

1. Joshua 14:10 · In this passage, Caleb speaks to Joshua about the promise God made to him. Caleb mentions that he was forty years old when Moses sent him to spy out the land, and now, forty-five years later, he is still strong and ready to claim the inheritance promised to him. This reference highlights the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises over a significant period of time. The verse reads: "Now behold, the LORD has kept me alive these forty-five years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Here I am today, eighty-five years old."

2. Judges 20:15 · The number forty-five appears in the context of the Israelite tribes preparing for battle against the tribe of Benjamin. The verse states: "On that day the Benjamites mobilized 26,000 swordsmen from their cities, in addition to 700 choice men from the inhabitants of Gibeah." While the number forty-five is not directly mentioned in this verse, the broader context of the chapter involves the mobilization of forces and the counting of men, which often includes numbers like forty-five in the larger narrative of military organization and tribal dynamics.

Symbolic Significance:

In biblical numerology, the number forty often represents periods of testing, trial, or judgment, as seen in the forty years of Israel's wandering in the wilderness or the forty days of Jesus' temptation in the desert. The addition of five, a number sometimes associated with grace or God's goodness, could suggest a period of testing followed by divine favor or fulfillment, as seen in Caleb's life.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the mention of forty-five years in Caleb's account underscores the importance of patience and faith in God's promises. Caleb's unwavering faith and strength at the age of eighty-five serve as a testament to the sustaining power of God and the fulfillment of His word, regardless of the passage of time. This narrative encourages believers to trust in God's timing and remain steadfast in their faith, even when the fulfillment of promises seems delayed.

Historical Context:

The historical context of the number forty-five in the Bible often relates to the periods of Israel's history marked by conquest, settlement, and the establishment of tribal territories. The reference in Joshua 14:10 occurs during the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, a significant event in the nation's history that involved the allocation of land based on divine promises and tribal inheritances.

Overall, while the number forty-five does not appear frequently in the Bible, its occurrences are tied to themes of divine promise, faithfulness, and the unfolding of God's plan over time.705. arbaim -- forty
... 2), 648* (1), 743* (2), 745* (1), 845* (1), 945* (1), fortieth (3), forty (73),
forty times (1), forty-eight* (2), forty-first* (1), forty-five* (2), forty-nine ...
/hebrew/705.htm - 6k

2568. chamesh -- five
... 1), 745* (1), 75,000* (1), 775* (1), 8,580* (1), 845* (1), 945* (1), 95* (2), fifteen*
(15), fifteenth* (17), fifth (5), five (168), forty-five* (2), ninety ...
/hebrew/2568.htm - 6k

How to Work God's Joy-Machine
... TALK FORTY-FIVE. HOW TO WORK GOD'S JOY-MACHINE. It was a bright, sunny morning as
Brother Littlejoy walked down the street toward the railway-station. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk forty-five how to work.htm

System of the Arithmeticians; Predictions through Calculations ...
... It is evident, then, that the actual root is 9. And again, dividing the number
forty-five, we find nine [201] and nothing over"for nine times five are forty ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xiv system of the arithmeticians.htm

The Creator of the World Either Produced of Himself the Images of ...
... following out in thought their investigations to that Pleroma which is above the
three hundred and sixty-five heavens, which [3071] is above forty-five Ogdoads ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xvi the creator of the.htm

Heart Talks
... TALK FORTY-THREE. THE BIG END OF TROUBLE. TALK FORTY-FOUR. SELF-MADE BARRIERS. TALK
FORTY-FIVE. HOW TO WORK GOD'S JOY-MACHINE. TALK FORTY-SIX. BE BRAVE. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/

Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
... one hundred and seventy-eight missionaries, forty-one thousand church members."Total"
two hundred and forty-one missionaries, forty-five thousand three ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/missions of the methodist episcopal.htm

Caleb --A Green Old Age
... Then notice, still further, how for all these forty-five years Caleb had 'hid the
word in his heart,' had lived upon it and thought about it and believed it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/caleba green old age.htm

Lot's Escape from a Wicked City
... righteous. Wilt thou sweep away all the city for lack of five?" Jehovah said,
"I will not sweep it away, if I find forty-five there.". ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/lots escape from a wicked.htm

Division ii. --The Writings.
... Division II."The Writings. I. The Orations."These"forty-five in
number"raise him to equality with the best Orators of antiquity. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/division ii the writings.htm

A Description of the Temple.
... sitting upon it. Of its stones, some of them were forty-five cubits in length,
five in height, and six in breadth. Before this temple ...
/.../chapter 5 a description of 2.htm

How Coinred, King of the Mercians, and Offa, King of the East ...
... same year that they departed from Britain, the great bishop, Wilfrid, ended his
days in the province called Inundalum, after he had been bishop forty-five years ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xix how coinred king.htm

Forty-five (15 Occurrences)
Forty-five. Forty-first, Forty-five. Forty-four . Multi-Version
Concordance Forty-five (15 Occurrences). Genesis 18:28 ...
/f/forty-five.htm - 10k

245 (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 245 (3 Occurrences). Ezra 2:66 Their horses were seven
hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/245.htm - 7k

736 (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance 736 (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:66 Their horses were seven
hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/736.htm - 6k

45650 (2 Occurrences)
... 45650 (2 Occurrences). Numbers 1:25 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe
of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/45650.htm - 6k

345 (2 Occurrences)
... 345 (2 Occurrences). Ezra 2:34 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
(See NAS NIV). Nehemiah 7:36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five...
/num/345.htm - 6k

Zattu (5 Occurrences)
... Zattu (5 Occurrences). Ezra 2:8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five. ...
Nehemiah 7:13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five. ...
/z/zattu.htm - 8k

Transport (18 Occurrences)
... keepers. (BBE). Ezra 2:66 They had seven hundred and thirty-six horses,
two hundred and forty-five transport beasts, (BBE). Ezra 3 ...
/t/transport.htm - 12k

Thirty-six (7 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ezra 2:66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their
mules, two hundred forty-five; (WEB BBE DBY RSV). Nehemiah ...
/t/thirty-six.htm - 8k

Mules (14 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:66 Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred
forty-five; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/m/mules.htm - 11k

Forty (142 Occurrences)
... Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will not destroy it,
if I find forty-five there." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/forty.htm - 38k

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