which the sacred numbers seven and three are used. He had seven thousand sheep, seven sons—both before and after his trials; his three friends came and sat down seven days and seven nights without saying a word to condole with him (chap. 2:13); and both before and after his trials he had three daughters. The same artificial and parabolical appearance, it is said, is seen in the fact that after his recovery his possessions were exactly doubled, and he had again in his old age exactly the same number