Meaning of Numbers: The Number 404
The possible meaning of the number 404 is derived from the Biblical (Hebrew) calendar and Old Testament history.
God commanded ancient Israel to keep a Sabbatical year, also known as the land sabbath (Leviticus 25:2 - 6) or year of release (Deuteronomy 31:10). This year was the seventh in every seven-year cycle.
Sunset on September 2 in 403 A.D. (Tishri 1 on the Hebrew calendar) began a Sabbatical year. This special year ended at sunset on September 22 in 404 A.D. This was the 258th Sabbatical since the children of Israel received their inheritance in the Promised Land in 1398 B.C.
Appearances of Number Four Hundred Four
The English word "Lord" appears 404 times, in 355 verses, in the King James Bible book of Numbers. Its first appearance is in the book's first verse.
And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying . . . (Numbers 1:1, KJV).
The English word "priest" is written in 404 King James Old Testament verses. It is found the most in the book of Leviticus (147 verses) followed by Numbers (65) and then 2Kings (20).
The first use of the word is famously used in reference to Melchizedek who met Abraham after his victory in the Bible's first war. Its last use is God correcting the Levitical priesthood for failing to live up to their calling.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God (Genesis 14:18, KJV).
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 2:7 - 8, KJV).
Number 404 and the Biblical Calendar
The Feast of Trumpets (Tishri 1) in 404 B.C. was celebrated sunset September 3 to sunset the next day. It ended Biblical (Hebrew) civil year 3357 and began civil year 3358.
The Feast of Trumpets (Tishri 1) in 404 A.D. was celebrated sunset September 21 to sunset the next day. It ended Biblical (Hebrew) year civil year 4164 and began civil year 4165.
Biblical (Hebrew) civil year 404 began at sunset on September 21 in 3358 B.C. which was the start of the Feast of Trumpets. The year ended at sunset on September 10 in 3357 B.C.
The Persians
The Persian (Achaemenid) empire is considered the largest and most powerful of the ancient world. At its height, it controlled more than 2.9 million square miles (7.5 million square kilometers) of land. Compare this with the Roman Empire, which at its height during the rule of Emperor Trajan, controlled 2.2 million square miles (5.697 million square kilometers).
The empire came into frequent contact with the Israelites and was the target of several Biblical prophecies. Persia is mentioned prominently in the books of Esther, Ezra and Daniel. Referenced also as the Medes or Media in the King James, they are additionally discussed in 2Kings 17 and 18, Isaiah 13, 21, Jeremiah 51 and Acts 2:9.
Darius II ascended to the throne in 423 B.C. by murdering the previous ruler, Sogdianus, who had ruled for only six months. Not much is known about Darius II's reign except that it ended in 404 B.C. His son Artaxerxes II then assumed the throne and ruled to 359 B.C., a 45 year reign that made him the longest serving monarch over the empire.
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 404
There are no words in the Bible's original languages that are recorded exactly 404 times.
The prophetic book of Revelation has 22 chapters and 404 verses total.
404 is equal to 2 x 2 (2 squared) x 101. Both 2 and 101 are prime numbers.
404 is a unique sequence of numbers called a numeric palindrome. A palindrome, in general, is a word, phrase, sentence, or even a number that reads the same forward and backward.