Numbers 27:12-23

12 ¹Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up to this ²mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel.

13 "When you have seen it, you too ³will be gathered to your people, ⁴as Aaron your brother was;

14 for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, ⁵you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Joshua to Succeed Moses

15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,

16 "⁶May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

17 who ⁷will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be ⁸like sheep which have no shepherd."

18 So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man ⁹in whom is the Spirit, and ¹⁰lay your hand on him;

19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and ¹¹commission him in their sight.

20 "You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.

21 "Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him ¹²by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation."

22 Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.

23 Then he laid his hands on him and ¹³commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken 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

• 1. Deuteronomy 3:23-27; Deuteronomy 32:48-52
• 2. Numbers 33:47, 48
• 3. Numbers 31:2
• 4. Numbers 20:24, 28; Deuteronomy 10:6
• 5. Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 32:51; Psalms 106:32
• 6. Numbers 16:22
• 7. Deuteronomy 31:2; 2 Chronicles 1:10
• 8. 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5; Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34
• 9. Numbers 11:25-29; Deuteronomy 34:9
• 10. Numbers 27:23
• 11. Deuteronomy 3:28; Deuteronomy 31:3, 7, 8, 23
• 12. Exodus 28:30; 1 Samuel 28:6
• 13. Deuteronomy 31:23

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "was gathered"
• [b]. Lit "mouth"
• [c]. Lit "for My sanctity"
• [d]. Lit "before them and who will"
• [e]. Lit "who will bring"
• [f]. Lit "Take for yourself"
• [g]. Lit "majesty"
• [h]. Lit "mouth"
• [i]. Lit "mouth"
• [j]. Lit "by the hand of"