General Overview:

The number 400 appears in various contexts within the Bible, often symbolizing a period of testing, trial, or completeness. It is a significant number in biblical numerology and is associated with several key events and figures in the biblical narrative.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 15:13 · In this passage, God speaks to Abram (later Abraham) during the covenant ceremony, foretelling that his descendants will be strangers in a land not their own and will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years. This prophecy refers to the Israelites' future enslavement in Egypt. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.'"

2. Exodus 12:40-41 · This passage marks the fulfillment of the prophecy given to Abram. It records the duration of the Israelites' stay in Egypt, which lasted 430 years, including the 400 years of oppression. The BSB reads: "Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt."

3. Acts 7:6 · Stephen, in his speech before the Sanhedrin, recounts the history of Israel and references the 400 years of oppression in Egypt. The BSB states: "God spoke to this effect: that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years."

4. Genesis 23:15-16 · The number 400 appears in the context of a transaction between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite. Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for Sarah for 400 shekels of silver. The BSB records: "‘Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.’ Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard of the merchants."

5. 1 Samuel 22:2 · David, while fleeing from King Saul, gathers a group of about 400 men who were in distress, in debt, or discontented, and he becomes their leader. The BSB notes: "And all those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him."

6. 1 Samuel 25:13 · David prepares to confront Nabal with 400 men after Nabal insults him and refuses to provide provisions. The BSB states: "Then David said to his men, 'Each of you strap on your sword!' So they did, and David strapped on his own as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies."

7. 1 Samuel 30:10 · After the Amalekites raid Ziklag, David pursues them with 400 men, while 200 stay behind due to exhaustion. The BSB records: "David pursued, he and four hundred men, while two hundred stayed behind, too exhausted to cross the brook Besor."

Symbolic Significance:

The number 400 often symbolizes a period of trial or testing, as seen in the 400 years of Israelite oppression in Egypt. It can also represent a complete cycle or a significant transition, as in the case of Abraham's purchase of the burial site and David's leadership of his men. The recurrence of the number in various contexts highlights its thematic importance in the biblical narrative.400 (1 Occurrence)

Ezra 6:17
They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
(See NAS)

400 (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance 400 (1 Occurrence). Ezra 6:17 They offered at
the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two ...
/num/400.htm - 6k

Within (400 Occurrences)
... internally. 5. (adv.) In the house; in doors; as, the master is within.
Multi-Version Concordance Within (400 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/w/within.htm - 36k

Micaiah (27 Occurrences)
... first be ascertained. Ahab forthwith summoned the official prophets to
the number of 400, into the royal presence. Obsequious to ...
/m/micaiah.htm - 21k

Euphrates (36 Occurrences)
... At Kebban Maden, 400 miles from the source of the former, and 270 from that of the
latter, they meet and form the majestic stream, which is at length joined by ...
/e/euphrates.htm - 26k

Jacob (361 Occurrences)
... Genesis 27), Jacob became conscious of his guilt; and afraid of the anger of Esau,
at the suggestion of Rebekah Isaac sent him away to Haran, 400 miles or more ...
/j/jacob.htm - 77k

Ephron (13 Occurrences)
... Fawn-like. (1.) The son of Zohar a Hittite, the owner of the field and cave of
Machpelah (qv), which Abraham bought for 400 shekels of silver (Genesis 23:8-17 ...
/e/ephron.htm - 13k

Alexandria (4 Occurrences)
... by the Arabs (641) under the caliph Omar, the general could report: "I have taken
a city containing 4,000 palaces and 4,000 baths and 400 theaters." They ...
/a/alexandria.htm - 31k

Sidon (35 Occurrences)
... long by 200 wide, well protected by little islets and a breakwater, and a southern
about 600 by 400 yards, surrounded on three sides by land, but open to the ...
/s/sidon.htm - 25k

Number (2370 Occurrences)
... 1907. In these texts, ranging from 494 to circa 400 BC, the dates are stated,
not in words, but in figures of the kind described. ...
/n/number.htm - 40k

Brook (75 Occurrences)
... The upper portion of the wady is some 400 ft. above the sea. ... beneath the present
surface level, is 400 ft. below the temple-platform. ...
/b/brook.htm - 45k

Why did God send the Israelites to Egypt for 400 years (Genesis 15:13)? | GotQuestions.org

What were the 400 years of silence? | GotQuestions.org

What happened in the intertestamental period? | GotQuestions.org

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