I have found one reference which suggests tentatively that Tolkien was using numbers symbolically. It occurs in HOME 12, the chapter "The Calendars." Tolkien describes the calendar of the Eldar, which was short by 99 days after a century. Then he writes,
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The Dunedain altered these arrangements. They favoured the number 7, and also found a seven-day week more convenient.
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The bold is mine.
Bethberry