We are in Numbers chapter three with our word for today. פָּקַד visit, inspect, look at, see, command, attend to, appoint. It is used 304 times in the Old Testament, 12 times in our chapter. We find our word used in the sense to appoint, to assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to someone. Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh proceed to וְיַפְקֵ֥ד appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. Our word is used in the sense to count, to determine the number or amount of. 1 Samuel 14:17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, פִּקְדוּ “Count and see who has gone from us.” וַֽיִּפְקְד֔וּ And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. Our word is also used in the sense to be numbered, to be added up in number or quantity. Exodus 38:21 These are פְקוּדֵ֤י the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were פֻּקַּ֖ד recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. These three senses are how are word is used in our chapter. It is used one time in the sense of appoint, 6 times as count, and 4 times as numbered. Let’s look at these uses in our chapter. This is our one use in the sense of appoint. Numbers 3:10 And תִּפְקֹ֔ד you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. These are the six uses in the sense to count. Numbers 3:15-16, 39-40, 42 פְּקֹד֙ “List the sons of Levi, by fathers' houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward תִּפְקְדֵֽם you shall list.” So Moses וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד listed them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded … All פְּקוּדֵ֨י those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron פָּקַ֨ד listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000. And the Lord said to Moses, פְּקֹ֨ד “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names … So Moses וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. Here are the 4 uses in the sense to be numbered. Numbers 3:22, 34, 39, 43 Their פְּקֻדֵיהֶם֙ listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was פְּקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם [our word is not translated so literally it would be was numbered at] 7,500 … Their וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם֙ listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200 … All פְּקוּדֵ֨י those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron פָּקַ֨ד listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000 … And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward לִפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם as listed were 22,273. What we have behind God having Moses and the people make lists and be counted is his love for his people. We see the prayer made in this Psalm, as in a number of them, that appeals to God’s thinking his people count, that they matter. Psalm 80:14-15 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; וּ֝פְקֹ֗ד have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. We also see this idea of being valuable enough to be counted throughout the Bible. I’ll close with Jesus great words. Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
