Numbers 27:16

16 "May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh,^[a] appoint a man over the community

Numbers 27:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:16

Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh
The Maker of the souls of men, called the spirits of all flesh, or of corporeal beings, to distinguish them from the angels, who, though spirits, are incorporeal; and who knows the different qualities of the souls of men, their powers, and capacities, and fitness for service, what gifts and talents they have for business; and who can bestow such upon them, which will quality them for it:

set a man over the congregation:
meaning in his room and stead.

Numbers 27:16 In-Context

14 When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight at the waters." Those were the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

15 So Moses appealed to the Lord,

16 "May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community

17 who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord's community won't be like sheep without a shepherd."

18 The Lord replied to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Nm 16:22