By Water & Blood

Twenty

is the double of ten, and may in some cases signify its concentrated meaning. But its significance seems rather to be connected with the fact that it is one short of twenty-one, 21 - 1 = 20; that is to say, if 21 is the three-fold 7, and signifies Divine (3) completion as regards spiritual perfection (7), then twenty, being one short of 21, it would signify what Dr. Milo Mahan calls expectancy, and certainly we are not without illustrations in support of it:

• Twenty years Jacob waited to get possession of his wives and property, Gen 21:38,41.
• Twenty years Israel waited for a deliverer from Jabin's oppression, Judg 4:3.
• Twenty years Israel waited for deliverance through Samson, Judg 15:20, 16:31. But his work was never much more than "begun," Judg 13:25.
• Twenty years the Ark of the Covenant waited at Kirjath-jearim, 1 Sam 7:2.
• Twenty years Solomon was waiting for the completion of the two houses, 1 Kings 9:10; 2 Chron 8:1.
• Twenty years Jerusalem waited between its capture and destruction; and
• Twenty years Jeremiah prophesied concerning it.

ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS

Twenty dreams are recorded:—

1. Abimelech, Gen 20:3
2, 3. Jacob, Gen 28:12, 31:10
4. Laban, Gen 31:24
5, 6. Joseph, Gen 37:5,9
7, 8. The butler and the baker, Gen 40:5
9, 10. Pharaoh, Gen 41:1, 5
11. The man in Gideon's army, Judg 7:13
12. Solomon, 1 Kings 3:5
13, 14. Nebuchadnezzar, Dan 2:3, 4:5
15. Daniel, Dan 7:1
16, 17, 18. Joseph, Matt 1:20, 2:13, 19
19. The wise men, Matt 2:13
20. Pilate's wife, Matt 27:19