“Pekudei” – Accounts/Notations
Exo 38:21
These were the appointments (pekudei)
of the Dwelling Place, the Dwelling Place of the Witness, which was appointed (pukad) by the command of Mosheh, for
the service of the Lĕwites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.
כא אֵלֶּה פְקוּדֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת, אֲשֶׁר פֻּקַּד עַל-פִּי
מֹשֶׁה: עֲבֹדַת, הַלְוִיִּם, בְּיַד אִיתָמָר, בֶּן-אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן.
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These are the ones who were enabled to give a full
accounting of the Taberacle (that were enabled to make sure all instructions
and materials were correctly performed and accounted for) – the Tabernacle of
witness, that was enabled to be accounted for by the mouth of Moshe – service
of the Levites in the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
The title of our
parasha “pekudei” comes from a root Hebrew word “pakad” if we look carefully at the various
definitions given in BDB (S6485) we will see that this is a very complicated
word and various scholars interpret it differently. Perhaps this word in its
“Pual” form could mean – “to be called to account or to be paid in full”. In
the light of the perfect tense verbs used in the last two portions, I believe we need to look a little deeper
at something which directs us to a finished work.
“Parash’ot T’rumah, Tetzaveh, and Ki Tissa signifies the instructions (as can be observed by the fact that the verb tenses are in the future), whereas the latter two portions Vayekel and Pekudei are in the past tense, signifying the work that was completed according to instructions. “ Sages.”
If we look to Messiah
the goal of the Torah (Rom 10:4) we come to the conclusion that this work of
establishing a presence (Mishkan) for the presence of YHVH has been “eternally
secured” and paid for (pakad) by the price Messiah paid when he gave his life
on an execution stake.
This same root word
“pakad” appears in the Hebrew translation of John 19:30.
Joh 19:30 So when יהושע took the sour wine He said, “It has been
accomplished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
ל וַיִּטְעַם יֵשׁוּעַ מִן־הַחֹמֶץ וַיֹּאמֶר נִשְׁלָם וַיֵּט אֶת־רֹאשׁוֹ וַיַּפְקֵד אֶת־רוּחוֹ׃
Directly
translated could read: “ Yahshua tasted the vinegar and said peace has been
granted and he bowed his head and so his spirit did a full accounting
(“vayifked” from the root “pakad”)
In the Greek translation of the above verse the word “Tetelestai” is used
for “it is accomplished”. This was an accounting term used in those days when
an outstanding account was fully paid.
“Pekudei”
is a “pual” verb. This is the passive form of the active “piel.” The
implication is that this is an intense passive verb form indicating that some
intense action was taken on our behalf to make sure our debt was fully paid for
by someone beside ourselves.
What does all this mean? We are not
to add or to take away from the complete work of our redemption as secured by
YHVH and revealed to us in His Torah and other supporting writings.
Exo 38:22
And Betsal’ĕl son of Uri, son of Ḥur, of the tribe of Yehuḏah, made all that יהוה had commanded Mosheh.
Exo
38:23 And with him: Oholiaḇ son
of Aḥisamaḵ, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer, an
embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet material, and in fine linen.
Exo
38:24 All the gold prepared for the
work, in all the work of the set-apart place – and it was the gold of the wave
offering – came to be twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and thirty sheqels,
according to the sheqel of the set-apart place.
Exo 38:25 And the silver from the
ones counted of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-five sheqels, according to the sheqel of the set-apart
place:
Exo
38:26 a beqa, half a sheqel for a head,
according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, for everyone passing over to
those counted, from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three
thousand, five hundred and fifty men.
Exo
38:27 And the hundred talents of silver
were for casting the sockets of the set-apart place and the bases of the veil:
one hundred sockets from the hundred talents, a talent for each socket.
Exo
38:28 And of the one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-five sheqels he made hooks for the columns, and
overlaid their tops, and made bands for them.
Exo
38:29 And the bronze of the wave
offering was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred sheqels.
Exo
38:30 And with it he made the sockets
for the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the bronze altar, and the bronze
grating for it, and all the utensils for the altar,
Exo
38:31 and the sockets for the courtyard
all around, and the bases for the courtyard gate, and all the pegs for the
Dwelling Place, and all the pegs for the courtyard all around.
The number 1175 is the gematria of all the Hebrew letters combined. Yahshua
is referred to as the Aleph Tav – the beginning and the end. He is also the sum
total of all of YHVH’s redemptive work and is therefore not only the beginning
and the end but everything in between as well.
Summary of material used and cost of
tabernacle:
29 Talents 730 Shekels
of Gold
100 Talents 1,775 Shekels of Silver
70 Talents 2,400 Shekels of Brass (which most scholars believe to be copper)
100 Talents 1,775 Shekels of Silver
70 Talents 2,400 Shekels of Brass (which most scholars believe to be copper)
1 Talent = 75.40
pounds
1 Shekel = 0.025 pounds
1 Shekel = 0.025 pounds
2204.85 Pounds of Gold
7584.38 Pounds of Silver
5338.00 Pounds of Copper
7584.38 Pounds of Silver
5338.00 Pounds of Copper
We use pounds instead of kilograms
because gold is valued on the international market in ounces. There are 16
ounces per pound.
Gold $ 1382.96/oz
Silver $29.80/oz
Copper $0.28/oz
Silver $29.80/oz
Copper $0.28/oz
35,276.73 Ounces
of Gold X $1382.96 = $48,786,306.52
3,594,982.60 Ounces of Silver X $29.80 = $3,594,982.60
90,445.90 Ounces of Copper X $0.28 = $25,324.85
3,594,982.60 Ounces of Silver X $29.80 = $3,594,982.60
90,445.90 Ounces of Copper X $0.28 = $25,324.85
Total =
$52,406,613.97
This does not
include the rest of the material used on the tabernacle – which could be
estimated at an additional $4.5 million – total approx. $57 billion.
In South African
terms, times this by 10 to get a rand value.
It is about 570 billion rand.
Lets compare this
to the treasures captured in Nineveh
Bablyon:
(Note: Thus, to mention only one or two
examples, the images in the temple of Belus, at Babylon, consisted of several
thousand talents of gold, to say nothing of the golden tables, the bedsteads,
and other articles of gold and silver (Diod. Sic. 2, 9; Herod. 1, 181, 183). In
the siege of Nineveh, Sardanapalus erected a funeral pile, upon which he
collected all his wealth, including 150 golden bedsteads, 150 golden tables, a
million talents of gold, and ten times as much silver and other valuables, to
prevent their falling into the hands of the foe (Ctesias in Athen. 12, 28, p.
529). According to a statement in Pliny's Hist. Nat. 33, 3, on the conquest of
Asia by Cyrus, he carried off booty to the extent of 34,000 lbs. of gold,
beside the golden vessels and 500,000 talents of silver, including the goblet
of Semiramis, which alone weighed 15 talents. Alexander the Great found more
than 40,000 talents of gold and silver and 9000 talents of coined gold in the
royal treasury at Susa (Diod. Sic. 17, 66), and a treasure of 120,000 talents
of gold in the citadel of Persepolis (Diod. Sic. 17, 71; Curtius, v. 6, 9). For
further accounts of the enormous wealth of Asia in gold and silver, see Bhr,
Symbolik i. pp. 258ff.) – Wiki.
The tabernacle used 29 talents of gold, in
the above record we have one million talents of gold! The tabernacle used 100
talents of silver in the above record we have 500 000 talents of silver!
What can we deduce from such a comparison?
The idolatry of Babylon knows no bounds to
the extent its leaders will go to, to gather astronomical amounts of wealth.
Revelation 18 tells us what happens to this
spirit of Babylon in the last days.
It can be compared to the spirit of Esav and Ya akov.
Oba 1:6 “How
Ěsaw shall be searched out! His hidden treasures shall be sought out!
Oba 1:10 “Because
of your violence against your brother Yaʽaqoḇ, let shame cover you. And you shall be cut off
forever.
Mat 25:13 “Watch therefore, because you do not know the
day nor the hour in which the Son of Aḏam is coming,
Mat 25:14
for it is like a man going from home, who called his own servants and
delivered his possessions to them.
Mat 25:15
“And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another
one, to each according to his own ability, and went from home.
Mat 25:16
“And he who had received the five talents went and worked with them, and
made another five talents.
Mat 25:17
“In the same way, he with the two also, he gained two more.
Mat 25:18
“But he who had received the one went away and dug in the ground, and
hid the silver of his master.
Mat 25:19
“And after a long time the master of those servants came and settled
accounts with them.
Mat 25:20
“And he who had received five talents came and brought five other
talents, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents. See, I have gained
five more talents besides them.’
Mat 25:21
“And his master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant.
You were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the
joy of your master.’
Mat 25:22
“Then he who had received two talents came and said, ‘Master, you
delivered to me two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
Mat 25:23
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant. You
were trustworthy over a little, I shall set you over much. Enter into the joy
of your master.’
Mat 25:24
“And the one who had received the one talent also came and said,
‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and
gathering where you have not scattered seed,
Mat 25:25
and being afraid, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you
have what is yours.’
Mat 25:26
“And his master answering, said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant,
you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered
seed.
Mat 25:27
‘Then you should have put my silver with the bankers, and at my coming I
would have received back my own with interest.
Mat 25:28
‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to him who
possesses ten talents.
Mat 25:29
‘For to everyone who possesses, more shall be given, and he shall have
overflowingly; but from him who does not possess, even what he possesses shall
be taken away.1 Footnote:1See Lk. 8:18.
Mat 25:30
‘And throw the worthless servant out into the outer darkness – there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Mat 25:31
“And when the Son of Aḏam comes in His esteem, and all the set-apart messengers with Him,
then He shall sit on the throne of His esteem.
Mat 25:32
“And all the nations shall be gathered before Him, and He shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.
Mat 25:33
“And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the
left.
Mat 25:34
“Then the Sovereign shall say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you
blessed of My Father, inherit the reign prepared for you from the foundation of
the world –
Mat 25:35
for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me
drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
Mat 25:36
was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in
prison and you came to Me.’
Mat 25:37
“Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see
You hungry and we fed You, or thirsty and gave You to drink?
Mat 25:38
‘And when did we see You a stranger and took You in, or naked and
clothed You?
Mat 25:39
‘And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and we came to You?’
Mat 25:40
“And the Sovereign shall answer and say to them, ‘Truly, I say to you,
in so far as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to
Me.’
Mat 25:41
“He shall then also say to those on the left hand, ‘Go away from Me,
accursed ones, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
messengers –
Mat 25:42
for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me
no drink,
Mat 25:43
‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, was naked and you did not
clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
Mat 25:44
“Then they also shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see You
hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not
serve You?’
Mat 25:45
“Then He shall answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, in so far as
you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
Mat 25:46
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous
into everlasting life.”
The
values of a talent wikipedia
A talent (Ancient Greek τάλαντον, talanton
‘scale’ and ‘balance’) was a unit of weight of approximately 80 pounds (36 kg),
and when used as a unit of money, was valued for that weight of silver.[12] As
a unit of currency, a talent was worth about 6,000 denarii.[1] Since a denarius
was the usual payment for a day's labour,[1] the value of a talent was about
twenty years of labour, by an ordinary person.[13]By contemporary standards
(ca. AD 2009) at the rate of the US minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the value
of a talent would be approximately $300,000 over 20 years, while, at the median
yearly wage of $26,363, a talent would be valued at about $500,000.
Eph 4:7 But to each one of us favour was given
according to the measure of the gift of Messiah.
Eph 4:8 That is why it says, “When He went up on
high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
2Pe 1:2 Favour and peace be increased to you in the
knowledge of Elohim and of יהושע our Master,
2Pe 1:3 as His Mighty-like power has given to us all
we need for life and reverence, through the knowledge of Him who called us to
esteem and uprightness.
2Pe 1:4 Through these there have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these you might be
partakers of the Mighty-like nature, having escaped from the corruption in the
world, caused by lust.
2Pe 1:5 And for this reason do your utmost to add to
your belief uprightness, to uprightness knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control
endurance, to endurance reverence,
2Pe 1:7 to reverence brotherly affection, and to
brotherly affection love.
2Pe 1:8 For if these are in you and increase, they
cause you to be neither inactive nor without fruit in the knowledge of our
Master יהושע Messiah.
2Pe 1:9 For he in whom these are not present is
blind, being shortsighted, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his
old sins.
2Pe 1:10 For this reason, brothers, all the more do
your utmost to make firm your calling and choosing,1 for if you are
doing these matters you shall never stumble at all, Footnote: 1Mt.
20:16, Mt. 22:14, Rev. 17:14.
2Pe
1:11 for in this way an entrance into
the everlasting reign of our Master and Saviour יהושע Messiah shall be richly supplied to you.
Luk 16:8 “And the master praised the unrighteous
manager because he had acted shrewdly, because the sons of this age are more
shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
Luk 16:9 “And would I say to you, make friends for
yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they shall receive you
into everlasting dwellings?
Luk 16:10 “He who is trustworthy in what is least, is
trustworthy also in much. And he who is unrighteous in what is least is
unrighteous also in much.
Luk 16:11 “If, therefore, you have not been trustworthy
in the unrighteous mammon, who shall entrust to you the true?
Luk 16:12 “And if you have not been trustworthy in what
is another man’s, who shall give you what is your own?
He restores the years the locusts have eaten, the years we have
been robbed of spiritual insight that has resulted in lasting genuine increase
in our lives and in the lives of others. If we will repent and return to YHVH
He is able to bring great increase over a short period of time.
Pro 20:21 An inheritance obtained with greed at the
beginning Is not blessed at the end.