Numbers 27:18

18 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is [the] spirit, and place your hand on him.

Numbers 27:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:18

And the Lord said unto Moses
In answer to his request:

take thou Joshua the son of Nun,
who had been a servant of his near forty years, and of whose humility, diligence, faithfulness and integrity he had sufficient proof, as well as of his skill and courage in military affairs, particularly at the battle with Amalek, ( Exodus 17:9-13 ) ( 24:13 ) ( 33:11 ) :

a man in whom is the Spirit:
not only in whom is a spirit or soul, which is in every man; but the Spirit of God, and that not only as a spirit of grace and sanctification, which is in every good man; but as a spirit of prophecy, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; or rather it respects the more than ordinary gifts of the Spirit qualifying him for government, as courage and conduct, wisdom, prudence, and greatness of mind:

and lay thine hand upon him;
thereby transferring the government to him, pointing him out to the people as his successor; to show to the children of Israel that he was in his place, as Aben Ezra notes; upon which followed a larger measure of the gifts of the Spirit of God; see ( Deuteronomy 34:9 ) .

Numbers 27:18 In-Context

16 "Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community

17 who will go out before them and will come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so the community of Yahweh will not be like a flock that does not have a shepherd."

18 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is [the] spirit, and place your hand on him.

19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community, and {commission him} {in their sight}.

20 You will give to him from your authority so that the entire community of Israel will {obey him}.