Introduction
One of the names of God is hy Jah, which is part of Jahovah the most holy name of God. Fifteen is also 3 x 5, divine perfection by grace. It is often seen in association with divine grace, or the free unmerited favor of God. Indeed the first time we see fifteen in the Bible is in the story of Noah, who was saved by the divine grace of God alone.
18And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
Genesis 7:18-20
However fifteen is also the sum of seven and eight, two very significant numbers. Seven is spiritual perfection and so speaks of God just as three, divine perfection does. Eight is the number of resurrection. Fifteen is also often seen where new life or resurrection feature. In the first occurrence noted above, we know that Noah and his family went through a type of baptism, being brought through the waters to a new life, in an earth cleansed of the violence and sin of the old world. Thus we see, not only divine grace (3 x 5 = 15) but also Gods spiritually perfect new life (7 + 8 = 15). These features will be seen in the number fifteen wherever it occurs.
Fifteen is a triangular number. If arranged as an equilateral triangle its sides will be of length five. The interior of the triangle, will be a smaller triangle of three units. Thus fifteen is geometrically related to both of its major factors. It is also interesting to note that fifteen is the fifth in the series of triangular numbers, starting with the number one (one cannot truely be a triangular number but it is the actual start of the series). Then the fifth prime number, also including one (one is not truly considered a prime number by mathematicians, but it is the start of the series), is seven. Also as the perimeter of the fifteen as triangle is twelve (15 - 3 = 12) the perimeter of the next triangular number (21) is fifteen. So fifteen is a slid triangle and also the outline of the next triangle. |
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Divine Grace
Other examples of fifteen as the number of Divine grace can be seen as follows:
5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 6And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
2 Kings 20:5-6
In this instance, Hezekiah, the king of Judah was sick. Isaiah the prophet is sent to him to tell him to get his house in order, he will die. Hezekiah prays fervently to the Lord, and Isaiah is sent back with the good news that he will recover and live another 15 years. Thus wee see divine grace in action, the extra 15 years granted to Hezekiah are the result of prayer to the Lord and nothing else.
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
Leviticus 23:6
Immediately after the passover, which was on the fourteenth day of the first month, was the feast of unleavened bread. This feast was to start on the fifteenth day of the month. Also the feast of tabernacles was to start on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
Leviticus 23:34
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