A Study on the number 13
The number 13 is a number surrounded by a great deal of superstition and fear. It has long been associated with bad luck or has been treated as a number to be avoided. The Bible portrays this number as a symbol of rebellion or sin.
Some examples of the number 13 in scripture are:
- "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled." (Gen 14 v 4)
- Ishmael, the child born through lack of faith in God's promise, was thirteen when he was circumcised by Abraham. (Gen 17 v 25)
- The number of people that died in the rebellion ("matter") of Korah were 250 + 14700 = 14950 (13 x 1150). (Num 16 v 35,49)
- Of the 20 kings of Judah 7 were righteous and 13 turned away from God.
The story of a rebellious family
The story of Joktan and his family yields many features of the number 13. This family springs from a rebellious lineage. The scripture passage Genesis chapter 10 verses 25-29 that tells the story of the descendants of Joktan has a numerical gematria of 10647 - 13 x 13 x 63 (Feature 1).
Joktan's name has a gematria of 169 - 13 x 13 (Feature 2). The passage records that Joktan had 13 sons (Feature 3) and the combined gematria of their names is 2756 - 13 x 212 (Feature 4). Joktan himself was the 13th descendant from Shem (Feature 5).
The sons of Joktan
1 Almodad = 85
2 Sheleph = 410
3 Hazarmaveth = 744
4 Jerah = 218
5 Hadoram = 255
6 Uzal = 44
7 Diklah = 139
8 Obal = 108
9 Abimael = 84
10 Sheba = 303
11 Ophir = 287
12 Havilah = 59
13 Jobab = 20
= 2756 (13 x 212)
Satan and the number 13
Satan is a figure that would surely closely represent sin or rebellion against God, and hence the number thirteen plays a significant part in the gematria of some of the names given to this fallen angel.
Gematria of Satan's names
Beelzebub = 598 (13 x 46)
Belial = 78 (13 x 6)
Dragon = 975 (13 x 75)
Serpent = 780 (13 x 60)
Murderer = 1820 (13 x 140)
Tempter = 1053 (13 x 81)
The Demon = 975 (13 x 75)
The adversary = 364 (13 x 28)
The antichrist = 1911 (13 x 147)
