In Scandinavian mythology there are three times three earths; three times three worlds in Niflheim; three times three regions under the dominion of Hel.
According to a mediæval tradition, the heavens are three times three., viz., the Moon, Venus, Mercury, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the fixed stars and the primum mobĭlê.
Symbolic. (1) In the tabernacle and Jewish Temple.
The Temple consisted of three parts: the porch, the Temple proper and the holy of holies. It had three courts: the court of the priests, the court of the people and the court of foreigners. The innermost court had three rows, and three windows in each row (1 Kings vi. 36; vii. 4).
Similarly, Ezekiel’s city had three gates on each side (Ezek. xlviii. 31). Cyrus left direction for the rebuilding of the Temple; it was to be three score cubits in height, and three score cubits wide, and three rows of great stones were to be set up (Ezra vi. 3, 4). In like manner, the “New Jerusalem” is to have four times three foundations: (1) jasper, (2) sapphire, (3) chalcedony, (4) emerald, (5) sardonyx, (6) sardius, (7) chrysolyte, (8) beryl, (9) topaz, (10) chrysoprase, (11) jacinth, (12) amethyst. It is to have three gates fronting each cardinal quarter (Rev. xxi. 13-20).
(2) In the Temple Furniture: The golden candlestick had three branches on each side (Exod. xxv. 32); there were three bowls (ver. 33); the height of the altar was three cubits (Exod. xxvii. 1); there were three pillars for the hangings (ver. 14); Solomon’s molten sea was supported on oxen, three facing each cardinal point (1 Kings vii. 25).
(3) Sacrifices and Offerings: A meat offering consisted of three-tenth deals of fine flour (Lev. xiv. 10); Hannah offered up three bullocks when Samuel was devoted to the temple (1 Sam. i. 24); three sorts of beasts--bullocks, rams, and lambs--were appointed for offerings (Numb. xxix.); the Jews were commanded to keep three national feasts yearly (Exod.. xxiii. 14-17); in all criminal charges three witnesses were required (Deut. xvii. 6).
Miscellaneous Threes. Joshua sent three men from each tribe to survey the land of Canaan (Josh. xvii. 4). Moses had done the same at the express command of God (Numb. xiii.). Job had three friends (Job ii. 11). Abraham was accosted by three men (angels), with whom he pleaded to spare the cities of the plain (Gen. xviii. 2). Nebuchadnezzar cast three men into the fiery furnace (Dan. iii. 24). David had three mighty men of valor, and one of them slew 300 of the Philistines with his spear (2 Sam. xxiii. 9, 18). Nebuchadnezzar’s image was three score cubits high (Dan. iii. 1). Moses was hidden three months from the Egyptian police (Exod. ii. 2). The ark of the covenant was three months in the house of Obededom (2 Sam. vi. 11). Balaam smote his ass three times before the beast upbraided him (Numb. xxii. 28). Samson mocked Delilah three times (Judges xvi. 15). Elijah stretched himself three times on the child which he restored to life (1 Kings xvii. 21). The little horn plucked up three horns by the roots (Dan. vii. 8). The bear seen by Daniel in his vision, had three ribs in its mouth (ver. 5). Joab slew Absalom with three darts (2 Sam. xviii. 14). God gave David the choice of three chastisements (2 Sam. xxiv. 12). The great famine in David’s reign lasted three years (2 Sam. xxi. 1); so did the great drought in Ahab’s reign (Luke iv. 25). There were three men transfigured on the mount, and three spectators (Matt. xvii. 1-4). The sheet was let down to Peter three times (Acts x. 16). There are three Christian graces: Faith, hope, and charity (1 Cor. xiii. 13). There are three that bear record in heaven, and three that bear witness on earth (1 John v. 7, 8). There were three unclean spirits that came out of the mouth of the dragon (Rev. xvi. 13).
So again. Every ninth wave is said to be the largest.
[They] watched the great sea fall,