Numbers as Biblical References in LOST

"Oh my God! It was John in the coffin!" I have heard these words constantly all weekend. Ironically, people that know I worship LOST think that I need to be reminded of the most obvious things in the show. I also feel the need to hide my intelligence by not telling everyone that I knew that as soon as I heard the name "Jeremy Bentham," the man in the coffin, -- a discovery we've been waiting for since the season three finale -- I knew it was John Locke. Though I did not know much about Jeremy Bentham, I did know that he was the name of a philosopher. Since John Locke is our only character named after a philosopher, I just assumed it was John Locke.

While there is so much to discuss about the season four finale (or finales), I want to concentrate on something in this blog. I want to explore the use of Biblical references -- as subtle as they are -- in the show LOST. Perhaps some theories can be explored by looking at the names and, of course, the numbers used in LOST.

First, let's look at the flight number: Oceanic 815. The word Oceanic refers to anything having to do with the ocean or water. If we look at the books of the Bible, the first"Chapter 8, verse 15" that refers to water would be in the very first book: Genesis. Quoting from the New American Standard Bible, Genesis 8:15 says, "Then God spoke to Noah, saying." That's it! It is not until chapter 16 when God directs Noah to give his well-known mission to build an ark and save chosen ones from the flood. Could it be that the choice to call the flight "815" refers to the idea of the god of the island, Jacob, speaking to Noah (Locke or Ben?)? Was the disappearance of the island actually a flood? Are they travelling through time? To the center of the Earth? Or simply under water, destroying those who are worthy to get off the island? My guess would be that the island is an ark itself, saving those who stay on it. Though without the Oceanic 6, the ark is not complete, causing "bad things to happen."

Furthermore, according to 1 Peter 3:20, "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." A number of times in Season four, Jack and other characters have made references of "eight survivors." Though the question still remains as to who they are. Since the lie they are all telling has Kate pregnant when the plane went down, that would make the Oceanic 6 only the Oceanic 5 at the time of the crash, making three other people alive with the Oceanic 6. Supposedly, these people died before they were saved.

While we are on the numbers, let's look at the reappearing numbers that constantly haunt our friend, Hurley. 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. When added together, we get the number 108. This number also has been seen repeatedly in the show. First, it was the number of the minutes that the islanders had to punch in the numbers into the Swan before something bad happened. It also happens to be the number of days that the Oceanic 6 were on the island before they were "rescued."

4 - The fourth verse of the Bible refers to God seeing the light and knowing it was good and dividing the light from the darkness. Could this be a reference to the division between the enlightened John Locke and the blinded Jack Shepherd (and do I really have to go into the word "Shepherd" and the idea of Jesus as our shepherd?)? It could, but I would see it more as the division between John Locke and Ben Linus and the choice that Jacob has made to use Locke as his true prophet. This line of the Bible is also the first time God claims that what he did was "good." Locke, Jack, Ben, and other characters consistently challenge each other on what is "good" for themselves and, in Ben and Locke's case, for the island.

Check out the fourth book of the Bible. Ironically, it's the book of Numbers. Whatever the numbers mean, one cannot argue that they are a major theme of the show -- though we don't know why yet. The name of this book in the Hebrew text is "Bemidbar," which means "the wilderness." This is the first place the characters find themselves, until they discover other areas of the island. Hence, the first number in the list represents the first place the characters find themselves.

8 - As already discussed, the number 8 is used in the show as the number of survivors and the Bible refers to eight souls that are saved from the flood, even though they are not represented on Noah's Ark. We also see the number 8 in the Bible as the beginning of a new cycle (since the world was created in seven days). Number eight is also the number day when the Hebrews performed a circumcisn, which is believed to represent the Covenant between God and the chosen people. It is clear that certain people feel "chosen" by Jacob.

The number 8 also refers to resurrections in the Bible. Other than Jesus Christ, there are eight resurrections that occur in the Bible, one of them being Lazarus, Jesus' dear friend. Though we've never seen anyone come back from the dead (yet), we have seen many figures appear on the island, though they are dead. Perhaps the one that has raised the most questions, Christian Shepherd, would be the ninth resurrection, that of Jesus Christ himself. Christian refers to the group that follow the word of Jesus Christ and we've already looked at the word Shepherd. So who is the Shepherd? Is it Jack? Is it Christian? Is it both? Who are the other resurrections that we should be paying attention to? Mr. Echo (one of the most spiritual characters on the series -- and one who apparently likes to come back from the dead to play chess)? Claire (by now you all agree with me that she's dead, right?)? Charlie? Of course, to follow the thought that Charlie and Echo have come back from the dead, one would also have to agree with me when I make the claim that Hurley is in no way insane. Right? Right? I have a suspicion that another resurrection will occur when they get Locke's corpse back on that island (as Ben said they would have to). It would be interesting if Locke was brought back to the island and woke up exactly 40 days after his death.

15 -

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

Fifteen refers to the number of "cubits upward" that the waters rose to cover the land when the Flood occurred. Yes, once again, we see Noah. Wouldn't it be something if one of the new characters next season (because let's face it, there will be new characters) was named Noah. Though that would ruin my theory of John Locke being Noah. By now, are you wondering what the hell a cubit is? It is a form of measurement used mainly in the Bible. Think of it as about half a yard, give or take. I would argue that the large swallowing of the island that we saw was much more than your standard 15 cubits, but "the mountains" were covered. They were covered so much that there was no island to be found.

16 - You know when you are watching a baseball game on TV or perhaps another sporting event and someone in the stands is holding a sign that says, "John 3:16"? This is referring to the mostly widely referenced line in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Ironically, the man who believes in the "god of the island," Jacob, seems to be dead in the future. But let's remember that John Locke is alive and well on the island. For some reason, when he becomes Jeremy Bentham (a philosopher with exactly the opposite ideas of those spoken by John Locke), he perishes. What will John Locke do to tick the almighty Jacob off? I'm sure that is something we will have to wait a while to find out (perhaps the finale of season five?).

23 - The number 23 appears in the Bible often when the discussion of prosperity, abundance or wealth comes into play. It was just recently that he found out that two very rich men, Charles Widmore and Ben Linus, are fighting over the island. Ben would probably argue that Widmore is using his prosperity for evil, while Ben is trying to save the island and put it to good use (though we still don't know what that is).

The most famous reference to the number 23 would have to be Psalm 23:

"1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my
cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." Psalm 23:1-6

This passage can easily stir up images of the island in it's most beautiful form: "green pastures" and "still waters" bring out images of nature. The question is, who would this passage refer to? Jack, the "shepherd" whose main goal has been to be the savior of those on the island? Or Locke, who believes that the island has restored his soul -- or at least his legs -- and who will do anything to save the island before saving the people on it? If and when the final showdown between these two characters occurs, the answer to this question will most likely be answered. Either way, it is clear that for now, John Locke feels the need to "dwell in the house" of Jacob forever. Who wouldn't if a group of people would worship you like that? Will Locke eventually start fearing evil as he walks through the valley of his own death? Will he start doubting Jacob?

42 - Genesis 42 is an entire chapter dedicated to the sons of a very popular Old Testament figure: Jacob. Jacob's children were eventually divided into the 12 tribes of Israel. It is in these chapters that Jacob sends his sons to Egypt because there is a famine in Canaan, their home. While in Egypt, the brothers come across their brother, Joseph, whom they sold to slavery many years ago. In an attempt to see if his brothers have changed their evil ways, Joseph frames Jacob's newest favorite son ... BENJAMIN to see if the brother's will stand up for him and sacrifice themselves to make Jacob happy. So does this mean that it will actually tick Jacob off that Locke sacrificed Ben to move the island. It seems pretty clear that Locke cared very little for whatever happened to Ben. I loved Locke's creepy smile when it became obvious to him that the Others wanted to follow him now. Does this mean that Ben is the true son of Jacob or Son of God? Then who is Locke? Christian Shepherd seems to have a nice relationship with Jacob. Is "Christian Shepherd" literally what his name sounds like, the Son of the island god: Jacob? Is there a Joseph in the group -- someone who is the favorite son of Jacob? My guess would be Hurley, the character who has seen the most dead people. Joseph could not see dead people, but he was able to see things that his brothers could not.

There are so many questions still left to be answered, but I hope that my rant here brought up some new ideas. I want to hear what LOST fans out there think. Am I crazy? My students often ask me, "Did the author really think of that symbolism when he was writing this book?" Many times, the answer is probably no. But I always find it extraordinary how an author's words can be interpreted so many ways. LOST never fails to bring out the critical thinker in me. Here's looking forward to season 5 ... hopefully, we won't have to wait long.