Topical Bible: Israel: Prophecies About the Multitude of

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The nation of Israel holds a central place in biblical prophecy, with numerous passages throughout the Scriptures foretelling its future growth, restoration, and significance. These prophecies often emphasize the multitude of Israel, both in terms of population and influence, as part of God's covenantal promises.

Abrahamic Covenant and the Promise of Multitude

The foundation of the prophecies concerning the multitude of Israel begins with the Abrahamic Covenant. In Genesis 12:2, God promises Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." This promise is further expanded in Genesis 15:5, where God tells Abraham, "Look now at the heavens and count the stars, if you are able. Then He declared, 'So shall your offspring be.'" This imagery of countless descendants is reiterated in Genesis 22:17, "I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore."

Jacob's Blessing and the Twelve Tribes

The promise of multitude is passed down to Jacob, Abraham's grandson, who is renamed Israel. In Genesis 35:11, God says to Jacob, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you." Jacob's twelve sons become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel, each tribe contributing to the nation's growth and diversity.

Mosaic Covenant and National Expansion

The Mosaic Covenant, given at Sinai, includes promises of national expansion contingent upon Israel's obedience. In Deuteronomy 28:1, God promises, "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." The blessings of obedience include prosperity and multiplication, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:11, "The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land."

Prophetic Visions of Restoration and Growth

The prophets of Israel frequently speak of a future time when the nation will be restored and multiplied. Isaiah 54:1-3 encourages Israel, "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who have never been in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband... For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities."

Jeremiah also speaks of this restoration in Jeremiah 30:19, "From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased; I will honor them, and they will not be belittled."

Ezekiel's Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37 presents a vivid prophecy of Israel's restoration and multiplication through the vision of the valley of dry bones. In verses 10-11, the bones come to life and form "an exceedingly great army," symbolizing the rebirth and growth of the nation. This vision underscores God's power to restore and multiply His people, even from a state of desolation.

New Testament Fulfillment and Expansion

The New Testament continues the theme of Israel's multitude, with the inclusion of Gentiles into the spiritual Israel through faith in Christ. Romans 11:25-26 speaks of a future time when "all Israel will be saved," indicating a vast number of people coming to faith. The book of Revelation also envisions a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne of God (Revelation 7:9), reflecting the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to multiply His people.

These prophecies about the multitude of Israel highlight God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His sovereign plan for His chosen people throughout history and into the future.

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Genesis 13:16
And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered.
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Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you be able to number them: and he said to him, So shall your seed be.
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Genesis 22:17
That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is on the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
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Genesis 26:4
And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give to your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
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Genesis 28:14
And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
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Library

St. Ambrose Assures Gratian of victory, Declaring that it Has Been ...
... that it has been foretold in the prophecies of Ezekiel. ... the valley, and there [the
house of Israel shall] overthrow Gog and all his multitude, and it ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvi st ambrose assures.htm

The Fulfilment of the Prophecies Concerning Christ.
... XXXI."The Fulfilment of the Prophecies Concerning Christ ... the King whom the people
of Israel first received ... much more fruitful and numerous multitude of saints ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxxi the fulfilment of the.htm

A Statement in vindication of the Doctrine of the Apostles as ...
... as Opposed to Idolatry, in the Words of the Prophecies. ... name is being made known
among such a multitude of peoples ... and the demons, the very God of Israel is now ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxxii a statement in vindication.htm

Hazael Makes an Expedition against the People of Israel and the ...
... he stood in the midst of the multitude, and gave ... into a disease, the king of Israel
came to ... he overcame his own adversaries by his prophecies, without fighting ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hazael makes an.htm

Hezekiah
... the leaders began to institute a reform, a multitude of the ... spoken through Moses
in the hearing of all Israel, had been accompanied by prophecies of God's ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 28 hezekiah.htm

The Chosen People
... They measured their holiness by the multitude of their ... their enemies and restore
the kingdom to Israel. They had studied the prophecies, but without spiritual ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 2 the chosen people.htm

The Prophecies
... the east, and toward the land of Israel, and it ... to accomplish the vision and the
prophecies, and to ... be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section xi the prophecies.htm

"The House of Israel"
... Yet none were left without hope; Malachi's prophecies of judgment ... the time of this
restoration of Israel in the ... "I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

Thessalonica
... of the Almighty the Sweet Singer of Israel had testified ... to the earth in fulfillment
of the prophecies and who ... of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 22 thessalonica.htm

"We have Found the Messias"
... A multitude were gathered, listening to his words, when the delegates ... he seemed to
have a thorough knowledge of the prophecies and of the history of Israel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 14 we have found.htm