Israel’s war against Hamas and the Iranian proxies attacking on several fronts is the longest war in Israel’s history, and has now reached a terrible total of 500 days.
For our soldiers, 500 days is an extremely long time to have to endure, to stay alert, and to keep fighting to finally defeat the terrorist groups threatening death to Israel. Our troops have been fighting for over 16 months we are going to hit one and a half years of war if it doesn’t stop soon.Far more than 500 soldiers have now fallen in action, and the battle in Gaza remains extremely volatile and dangerous. How long can they keep fighting? How many more lives will be lost, and when will we see peace?
The number 500 sounds like a lot, and in many ways, that’s exactly what it symbolizes as a number: a large abundance, a complete lot. It also features in the Bible a few times, and the references are very pertinent to our situation, offering a glimmer of hope in this dark time.
500 minute fast for those held captive for 500 days
For the hostages and their families, as well as everyone yearning with them for release, 500 days is an unbearable length of time. Many fear soon it will be too much and that hostages may perish from starvation and ill-treatment. As a result of the momentous milestone, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum have called the whole nation to fast for 500 minutes.
“This day of fasting is nothing compared to the suffering they are experiencing there,” they said, “but this is a day of identification and a demonstration of solidarity that strengthens the kidnapped and gives voice to the cry of those whose voices are not heard. There is no more time – we must act immediately to return everyone.”1
Standing to pray in front of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence, the uncle of hostage Edan Alexander, Levi Ben-Baruch said, “We will fast 500 minutes for the captives. They’ve already been fasting for 500 days.”
“For 500 days our brothers and sisters have been in Hamas captivity,” He added. “We open the morning with a cry and tear open the gates of heaven in a plea to the Creator of the World to redeem them from their torment. Shema Yisrael, we hear the harsh testimonies and our hearts are torn. They are chained, tied up and starving. We demand everyone at home, down to the last hostage.”
Released hostage Sagui Dekel Chen reads his daughters a bedtime story after nearly 500 days as a hostage.
This is our light in the darkness. Am Yisrael Chai. 🫶🎗️🧡🧡 pic.twitter.com/RX8WAEHY0v
— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) February 16, 2025
500 in the Bible
In the Bible the number 500 appears several times and with some significance as we turn to God in prayer and ask for His intervention.
In 1 Chronicles 4:42 we read that 500 sons of Simeon went to Mount Seir to establish territory for their tribe. As one of the twelve tribes that arrived in the Promised Land, Simeon was given an allotment of land in the area of Judah, but Mount Seir is located south east of the Dead Sea in the land of Edom, which is in Jordan today. The Edomites were enemies of Israel in the Bible. The number 500 indicates that the group was large, organized, and going with the purpose of taking Edomite territory in order to expand their lot, and “stretch out the tent pegs”, so to speak.
Esther chapter 9 also speaks of Israel’s conquest over her enemies. The wicked Haman had plotted to annihilate the entire Jewish people just because Mordecai the Jew refused to bow down to him, but God turned the table on his evil plans. Esther stood up for her people and pleaded for their lives before the king, who granted them the right to defend themselves when attacked. Here’s what happened:
“The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men.” (Esther 9:5)
We read of the king’s reaction to the news a few verses later:
That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” (Esther 9:11-12)
Both with the remaining hostages and also with the need for a decisive military victory, we can turn to God, our King, with our requests.
500 witnesses of the risen Jesus
The last major reference to the number 500 is in 1 Corinthians 15:6, which talks about what happened after Jesus rose from the dead:
“After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.”
That’s right, an enormous number of people saw Jesus alive again, 500 at one time!
We have seen consistently high numbers of both Jews and Arabs engaging with our evangelistic media and reaching out with questions and enquiries. Please pray for all those seeking meaning, hope, and answers, to encounter the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Yeshua the Messiah.
Prayer points
Join us in praying for the people of Israel in this extremely dark time in our journey:
Pray that many would have the veil removed from their eyes and would see the light of Jesus shining in this darkness.
Pray for the hostages to be released—ALL of them—and for the families who are suffering here in Israel as we wait.
Pray that Israel would soon be victorious in the war against Hamas and all the Iranian proxies around our borders.
Please pray for peace, that the gospel can spread rapidly throughout the whole Middle East without hinderance.
- https://allisrael.com/fasting-is-nothing-compared-to-their-suffering-hostage-families-forum-calls-for-fast-on-500th-day-of-hamas-captivity
