Seven

Seven in Narrative The number 7 comes up explicitly in many narratives: Creation — God creates for six days, and on the seventh day God rests, blessing and sanctifying the seventh day. Noah’s Animals — Noah must bring seven pairs of clean animals on the ark. Days — Narratives often mark the passing of a short time with seven days. For example, God warns Noah that the flood will come in 7 days, seven days separate the blood and frogs plague, etc. Years—Narratives that wish to mark the passing of a long time sometimes use seven years. For example, Jacob works for Rachel and Leah for seven years each, the good and bad years in Egypt each last seven years, etc. Progeny — Job (twice) has seven sons as does the barren woman in Channah’s poem. Reuel has seven daughters. Punishment — Cain is given a seven-fold punishment, as are the Israelites if they sin. Lamech even suggests that seventy-seven-fold is sometimes appropriate. Testimony — Abraham gives Abimelech seven sheep as a sign that Abraham is to maintain possession of Beersheba (“Well of Oath/Well of Seven” a play on words). Consecration — When Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons for priesthood, they must remain in the Tabernacle area for seven days.