Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

Ten and Law or Commandment

The Law Covenant 

"Abraham married the Egyptian handmaid Hagar after he had been in the land of Canaan ten years.  Hagar is a representative of the law covenant.  We read in Gal. 4:22 "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."

The two wives of Abraham are spoken of as forming an allegory and that they represented the two covenants of worship.  Hagar, the bondservant represented the covenant of the law.  Abraham married her after he had been in the land of Canaan ten years.  The ten years suggest to us that Hagar was associated with the law covenant.  As Hagar was in bondage, so those under the law covenant were in bondage also.  The law covenant brings into bondage.  The children of the bondservant are in bondage with the bondwoman.  This teaches us among other things that when people try to establish their righteousness under the works of the law they are going to a system of bondage that results in only a curse: Gal. 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." 

In contrast, Abraham had been married to the freewoman (Sarah) all along and her son was a son of promise.  As Isaac was a child of promise, so we, the elect of God, are also children of promise.  It is far better to worship under the covenant of grace than trying to establish our righteousness under the covenant of the law.   

Ten Candlesticks

2 Chr. 4:7 "And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left."  In the description of the building of the temple and the furnishings thereof, we read about how Solomon made ten candlesticks of gold.  According to Rev. chapter 1 the candlestick is emblematic of the Lord's church: Rev. 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

As we have previously proven, the number ten is associated with the laws and commandments and authority of God.  God designed the church so that she would manifest the laws, commandments and authority of God as we read in 1 Tim. 3:15, "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." 

Since the church is the pillar and ground of truth, she is to support (pillar) and be the foundation of truth.  In this manner, the church upholds the laws, commandments, and authority of God.  One of the identifying marks of the church is that she does this very thing.  A so-called church that ignores the laws, commandments and authority of God and says, "we will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel, only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach," is not a true New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Ten Tables 

The table in the scriptures is often associated with supping, dining, and feasting.  One of the great privileges and blessings set forth in the scriptures was to be able to sup, dine or feast at the king's table:

    1.  2 Sam 9:11 "Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons."

    2.  1 Ki 2:7 "But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother."

    3.  1 Ki 4:27 "And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing."

    4.  1 Ki 10:5 "And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her."

    5.  Luke 22:30 "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

    6.  1 Cor 10:21 "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

In the building of the temple and the furnishings thereof, Solomon had built and placed in the temple ten tables: 2 Chr. 4:8 "He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basins of gold."  Upon these ten tables was placed the showbread in order.  The loaves of showbread were emblematic of the word of God.  It is upon the word of God that the children of God feast at King Jesus' table.  We feast upon the laws, commandments and authority of God and the things that God, through those laws, commandments, and authority, has brought to us.  Through his laws, commandments, and authority, he has made the elect children of God righteous and heirs of heaven and has given unto them eternal life.