Numbers 27:13-23

13 After you have seen it, you will also be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was.^[a]

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^[b] of Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.^[c]

15 So Moses appealed to the Lord,

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

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

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.^[g]

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

20 Confer some of your authority on him so that the entire Israelite community will obey [him].

21 He will stand before Eleazar who will consult the Lord for him with the decision of the Urim.^[h] He and all the Israelites with him, even the entire community, will go out and come back in at his command."

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire community,

23 laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

Numbers 27:13-23 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Nm 20:22-29
• [b]. quarreling
• [c]. Nm 20:2-13; Dt 32:51
• [d]. Nm 16:22
• [e]. Jos 14:11; 1 Sm 18:13-16; 2 Sm 5:2; 11:1; 1 Kg 3:7; 2 Kg 11:9
• [f]. 1 Kg 22:17; Ezk 34:5
• [g]. Dt 34:9
• [h]. The Urim and Thummim were 2 objects used to determine God's will; Ex 28:30.