As Hester and Pearl go to the marketplace, Hester recalls that it is the 7-year anniversary of her time on the scaffold. What is symbolic about the number 7 (think in terms of the Bible)?

It has been seven years since Hester stood on the scaffold, and Pearl is seven years old. God created the world in seven days; the Book of Revelation talks about the seven angels and the seventh seal; Pharaoh saw seven cattle coming from the Nile; Mary of Magdala was possessed by seven demons; Hebrew slaves were to be freed after seven years; and many, many more.....