What should we deduce about the history of the numbers?

We know they were transmitted from the island from the radio tower. We might assume The Others or DHARMA initiated them. Why? To bring the candidates at the request of Jacob? MIB? Danielle stated she followed the numbers and that's how she came to the island. We know the numbers were part of the Swan (count down timer and the serial number on the hatch door) so we know DHARMA was associated / had knowledge of the numbers. We also know the countdown timer eventually shows hieroglyphs which should lead us to believe DHARMA was aware of the ancient aspects of the island (or atleast Radzinsky was). And whether this is canon or not, we have information (from the producers) that says the numbers were the variables of the V-Equation that DHARMA was studying (of course this was part of an ARG).

So I take all of this information and ask two questions... 1) was Jacob and/or MIB manipulating DHARMA to bring candidates... 2) if that is the case, why did the numbers only apply to 6 candidates as opposed to numerous candidates as shown on the lighthouse "compass"

Jimmyt 21:26, May 11, 2010 (UTC)