Deuteronomy 34:9

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of ¹the spirit of wisdom, for ²Moses had laid his hands on him. So ³the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Deuteronomy 34:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 34:9

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom,
&c.] The successor of Moses, and who, by the spirit of wisdom on him, was abundantly qualified for the government of the people of Israel; in which he was a type of Christ, on whom the spirit of wisdom and understanding is said to rest, ( Isaiah 11:2 ) ;

for Moses had laid his hands upon him;
which was a symbol of the government being committed to him, and devolving upon him after his death, and expressive of prayer for him, that he might be fitted for it, of which action see ( Numbers 27:23 ) ;

and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord
commanded Moses;
or by the hand of Moses; they received him and owned him as their supreme governor under God, and yielded a cheerful obedience to his commands, as the Lord by Moses commanded them to do, and as they promised; see ( Joshua 1:16-18 ) .

Deuteronomy 34:9 In-Context

7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.

8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 28:3; Isaiah 11:2
• 2. Numbers 27:18, 23
• 3. Joshua 1:17