Numbers 27:12-23

Joshua to Succeed Moses

12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites.
13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,
14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)
15 Moses said to the LORD,
16 “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community
17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[a] and lay your hand on him.
19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.
20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.
21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”
22 Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly.
23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses.

Numbers 27:12-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 27

This chapter relates, that, upon a petition of the daughters of Zelophehad, the affair of inheritances was settled; and it is directed that, in case of want of male issue, inheritances should pass to females, and in failure of them to the next of kin, whether father's brethren or any near kinsman, Nu 27:1-11, also an order to Moses to go up to the Mount Abarim, and take a view of the good land, and die; with the reason of it, Nu 27:12-14, upon which Moses desires a successor of him might be appointed, Nu 27:15-17, in answer to which Joshua is nominated, and being presented before the high priest and the people, was invested with his office, by imposition of hands, and had his charge given him, Nu 27:18-23.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Numbers 23:14
  • 2. Numbers 33:47; Jeremiah 22:20
  • 3. Deuteronomy 3:23-27; Deuteronomy 32:48-52
  • 4. S Leviticus 14:34
  • 5. Numbers 20:12; Numbers 31:2; Deuteronomy 4:22; Deuteronomy 31:14; Deuteronomy 32:50; 1 Kings 2:1
  • 6. Numbers 20:28
  • 7. S Nu 20:1,2-5
  • 8. S Numbers 20:12
  • 9. S Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:51; Psalms 106:32
  • 10. S Numbers 16:22; S Job 21:20
  • 11. Deuteronomy 31:2; 1 Kings 22:17; 2 Chronicles 18:16; Ezekiel 34:5; Zechariah 10:2; S Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34
  • 12. S Genesis 41:38; Numbers 11:25-29
  • 13. ver 23; Deuteronomy 34:9; Acts 6:6
  • 14. ver 23; Deuteronomy 3:28; Deuteronomy 31:14,23
  • 15. Deuteronomy 31:7
  • 16. Joshua 1:16,17
  • 17. S Genesis 25:22; Joshua 9:14; Psalms 106:13; Isaiah 8:19; Haggai 1:13; Malachi 2:7; Malachi 3:1
  • 18. S Exodus 28:30
  • 19. S ver 19

Footnotes 1

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