Eric,
 
What you discovered about the 2nd Star is simply amazing!
 
I was able to discern more patterns that add up to 17, 26 and 31.

26 = YHVH (standard, ordinal, sofit values)
17 = YHVH (reduced)
31 = EL (God)

  26 = 1 (1st row)  +
         9  (3rd row) +
         16 (4th row)      !!!
 
This is precisely the Shaddai Square (9 + 1 + 16)!
 

 
Consider just the Triangle (10 counters).

17+17 = total of the 10 counters = 1 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 !!!!
 
31 = outline of the Triangle (i.e. minus the center counter 3)  !!!!
 
There are other amazing stuff hidden in the 2nd Star. For example, the 206 skeletal bones are there as well!
 
John