what does the number 2 represent in the bible

The number 2 is the contradiction of the first number: there is now another. In a good sense, it speaks of addition, increase, growth; and so of help, confirmation, fellowship. Our word "seconding expresses these latter thoughts. (Comp. Ecc. 4:9-12.) Here we have, —

Confirmation in the way of testimony: "The testimony of two men is true." And we have seen that the power of this confirmation depends much on the diversity of the witnesses (2 being the expression of difference).

Number 2. Evil, when once introduced, does not remain quiescent, and we must be prepared therefore to find that it accompanies as a dark shadow all the primary and proper significance of numerals. Thus, two suggests not merely companionship, but difference, separation, as men say, when alienated one from another, "We are two." It opens up indeed the whole subject of evil as alienation from God and as bondage. Thank God, this is but one side. On the other, we have the primary significance of the number, as already seen, of companionship, of help, and by implication when evil has entered, of salvation and deliverance. The thought of God in the book of Genesis is largely that which the Lord conveyed to Moses, El-shaddai, "The Almighty,"or Himself in His unity. In the book of Exodus, we have the narrative of the bondage into which the children of Israel were brought, of the enslaving power of evil under which they were, and then of the compassion and delivering power of Jehovah. Exodus is thus distinctively the book of redemption, in which the narrative of the Passover lamb and the sheltering blood closes the chapter of the previous bondage, and opens the one into progress in the knowledge of God and of communion with Himself.

The fundamental thought is the opposite of the first number: there is now another. It speaks, therefore, of difference, division, (it is the first number which divides,) and thus often becomes symbolical of the power of evil.

Two is fundamentally the opposite of one: there is now another. Hence it speaks of difference; which in deepening grades becomes "contrast, opposition, conflict, enmity." It is the first number which divides: sin, evil, Satan's work, come naturally in under these heads.

This is the bad sense; in the good, however, it is equally significant. This our word "seconding" conveys in its main features. Analyzed, this gives as the first thought that of help, and along with this that of taking an inferior place: thus "salvation, ministry, service, humiliation," alike would come under it. Again, as "the testimony of two men is true," — the one confirming the other, — so the number symbolizes "witness, the word." But this is connected also with the thought of two, side by side simply; and here we have "relation, fellowship," and, not far off from these, "addition, increase, growth." As a product of these thoughts (relation, addition, and the inferior place,) we get the further thoughts of "dependence, faith."

We now come to the number 2, and here we have plainly the contrast and opposite of the first number. If 1 excludes difference, 2 affirms it. If 1 says there is not another, 2 says, of course, there is another. And this note of difference runs through all its meanings. "Difference" means, in some sort, contrast, easily passing into opposition, contradiction. Two is the first number that divides: hence it stands for enmity, conflict. When first studying the Psalms in this way it was that I first noticed how, commonly when I came to a second series, or the second psalm in a series, I found the subject to be the enemy. This was before I saw that it was a meaning of the number itself. Of course this is only one side of the number, the bad one.

The other side is essentially the thought of help, confirmation, fellowship. The fundamental text here is Ecc. 4 — "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Moreover, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how shall one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him." That is a thought which again is clearly native in the number; for we speak of "seconding" in the sense of "assisting." I may add that there is involved in it the thought of taking an inferior place in doing so.

(1) Confirmation in the way of testimony : "The testimony of two men is true." And the power of this confirmation depends much on the very diversity of the witnesses: take the Old and New Testament as God's great witness to man. The Second Person of the Godhead is "the True Witness " and "the Word of God." (2) Salvation; help. (3) Fellowship, relationship, covenant-the legal one. (4) Dependence, humiliation, service. Here again the idea of "seconding" assists the thought.

Here we have, — (1) Confirmation in the way of testimony: "The testimony of two men is true." And the power of this confirmation depends much on the very diversity of the witnesses: take the Old and New Testament as God's great witness to man. The Second Person of the Godhead is "the True Witness" and "the Word of God." (2) Salvation; help. (3) Fellowship, relationship, covenant — the legal one. (4) Dependence, humiliation, service. Here again the idea of "seconding" assists the thought.

Now you come to Exodus and what a contrast, it is a second book, and two suggests evil; it suggests bondage, and captivity; it suggests more than that, blessed be God, — help from Him, salvation, redemption. Then it suggests communion, association, and so you find this number 2 stamped, — do I say stamped? nay woven into the very fibre and texture of the whole book. It is a book that tells us of bondage and of redemption from bondage; of sin and of sacrifice for sin; of deliverance out of Egypt; of walking with God, or communion; and so you find throughout number 2.

It is hardly necessary to repeat these various themes for the spiritual application. Christ is the key to it all, and He readily opens its wondrous beauties to faith. The number two speaks of redemption.

(1) Difference, division, contrast, contradiction, opposition, conflict, enmity, the enemy's work. The unclean beasts were in the ark in twos ; the mother of a female child was to be unclean two weeks after its birth, - double the time for the man-child.