All these instances of 40 are curious. Too numerous to just be passed off as coincidence.
At any rate, here is the list:
1. The rains (in Noah's day) fell for 40 days and nights (Genesis 7:4).
2. Israel ate Manna for 40 years (Exodus 16:35).
3. Moses was with God in the mount, 40 days and nights (Exodus 24:18).
4.The sockets of silver are in groups of 40 (Exodus 26:19, 21).
5. Moses was again with God 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 34:28).
6. Moses fled Egypt at 40, led Israel from Egypt at 80 (40x2), died at 120 (40x3) after 40 years in the wilderness (De 34:7).
7.The spies searched the land of Canaan for 40 days (Numbers 13:25).
8.Therefore, God made Israel wander for 40 years (Numbers 14:33-34).
9. 40 stripes was the maximum whipping penalty (Deuteronomy 25:3).
10. God allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 3:11).
11. God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 5:31).
12. God again allowed the land to rest for 40 years (Judges 8:28).
13. Abdon (a judge in Israel) had 40 sons (Judges 12:14).
14. Israel did evil; God gave them to an enemy for 40 years (Judges 13:1).
15. Eli judged Israel for 40 years (1 Samuel 4:18).
16. Goliath presented himself to Israel for 40 days (1 Samuel 17:16).
17. Ishbosheth (Saul's son) was 40 when he began reign (2 Samuel 2:10).
18. Saul reigned for forty years (1Sa 13:1; Ac 13:21).
19. David reigned over Israel for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11).
20. The holy place of the temple was 40 cubits long (1 Kings 6:17).
21. 40 baths (measurement) was size of lavers in Temple (1 Kings 7:38).
22. Solomon reigned same length as his father; 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).
23. Elijah had one meal that gave him strength 40 days (1 Kings 19:8).
24. Jehoash (Joash) reigned 40 years in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:1).
25. Ezekiel bore the iniquity of the house of Judah for 40 days (Ezekiel 4:6).
26. Egypt to be laid desolate for 40 years (Ezekiel 29:11-12).
27. Ezekiel's (symbolic) temple is 40 cubits long (Ezekiel 41:2).
28. The courts in Ezekiel's temple were 40 cubits long (Ezekiel 46:22).
29. God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent (Jonah 3:4).
30. Jesus fasted 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).
31. Jesus was tempted 40 days (Luke 4:2, Mark 1:13).
32. Jesus remained on earth 40 days after resurrection (Acts 1:3).
Here is the Wikipedia page about the number forty. It has sections on both religion and math.
And here is a Google listing to play with.
And this page has some interesting thoughts on the number forty. (And a few instances that are not in the list above.
So does this one.
If anyone is tempted to turn this thread into a long dissertation on the number forty, please create a separate thread and just link it to this one. That way others won't get discouraged from posting their thoughts on this thread.
Bobcat