Meaning of Numbers: The Number 4000
The possible meaning of the number 4000 is derived from Jesus' miraculous feeding of people near the Sea of Galilee and from other Biblical events.
One of the many gauges that can be used to understand King Solomon's vast wealth is the hugh amount of chariots and horsemen he could support. During his rule He was able to afford and maintain 4000 stalls for horses and chariots as well as 12,000 riders!
And Solomon had four thousand (4000) stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he put in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem (2Chronicles 9:25, HBFV).
Appearances of Number Four Thousand
In the middle of 29 A.D., less than one year before his death, Jesus feeds 4,000 people near the Sea of Galilee. He utilizes, for this 26th recorded miracle of his ministry, only seven loaves and a few small fishes. After blessing such meager rations not only were all the people fed, seven baskets of excess food were collected!
And He took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave them to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets full of fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand (4000) men, besides women and children (Matthew 15:36 - 38, HBFV).
The feeding of 4,000 was the last of three miracles where the Lord miraculously provided food or drink. The other two were the turning water into wine at a wedding (John 2:1 - 11) and feeding 5,000 men (Matthew 14:13 - 21, Mark 6:30 - 42, Luke 9:10 - 17, John 6:1 - 13).
Number 4000 and the Ark
The Philistines, at the time of Samuel the prophet, made one of its many incursions into Israel. The Israelites, who knew of their encampment in Aphek, attacked the invader. God, however, was not with his people. The Philistines ended up routing Israel by killing 4000 men.
And the Philistines put themselves in order against Israel. And when the battle commenced Israel was beaten before the Philistines. And they killed about four thousand men of the army in the field (1Samuel 4:2, HBFV).
The Israelites, wanting to avenge the 4000 they lost, decided that bringing the Ark of Covenant into the battle would insure their victory (1Samuel 4:3). This strategy, however, failed miserably! Not only were an additional 30,000 Israelites killed, the High Priest's two sons also died in battle and the Ark was captured by the pagan Philistines (1Samuel 4:10 - 11).
Romans Arrest Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul, at the end of his third missionary journey in 58 A.D., visits Jerusalem's temple (Acts 21). Jews from Asia, who hate the apostle, recognize him walking into the temple's outer court. Believing he is bringing in Gentiles (Greeks) into an area Jewish tradition teaches is off limits to such people, they scream that he is defiling the temple! A riot then ensues where Paul is dragged out of the area and almost beaten to death.
The Romans hear of the riot and rush in to arrest Paul (Acts 21:31 - 33). They bind him with two chains and begin to lead him into their fortress within Jerusalem.
And when he was about to be brought into the fortress, Paul said to the chief captain, "Is it permissible for me to say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?
"Are not you the Egyptian who previously caused confusion and led into the desert four thousand (4000) men who were murderers?" (Acts 21:37 - 38, HBFV).
Who was the Egyptian the Roman captain was referring to who led 4000 murderous men?
"Josephus (Wars of the Jews, 2.13.5) wrote of an Egyptian impostor who claimed to be a prophet. He said this Egyptian had gathered 30,000 followers (Luke with accuracy states 4000; Josephus had a tendency to inflate numbers) and in 54 A.D. came to the Mount of Olives promising his adherents that the walls of Jerusalem would collapse at his command.
"Instead, the Roman army promptly marched on them, killed some and captured others, while the remainder were scattered. The Egyptian escaped." (Bible Knowledge Commentary on Acts 21:37 - 38).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 4000
4000 is equal to 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 (or 2 to the fifth power) x 5 x 5 x 5 (or 5 cubed).
The phrase "four thousand," either designating the number 4000 or used as part of a larger amount, appears 41 times in 37 King James Bible verses.
David, nearing the end of his life, makes Solomon the new ruler over Israel. He then has the nation's rulers and priests come to Jerusalem. A count of all those who could serve in the soon-to-be-built temple is then taken. It is discovered that 4000 gatekeepers and the same number of those skilled in music are able to serve. Scripture also confirms that David created musical instruments the purpose of which was to worship God!
And four thousand (4000) were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which David made for praising (1Chronicles 23:5, HBFV).
Biblestudy.org's Old Testament timeline places the creation of Adam and Eve in 3969 B.C. In order to understand the basic flow of Biblical history, however, the rough dates of the below individuals can be used as markers in which to slot other events in God's word.
Adam (4000 B.C.), Noah (3000), Abraham (2000), Moses (1500), King David (1000), Daniel the prophet (500 B.C.) and Apostle Paul (1 A.D.).