Numbers 27:12-23

Announcement of Moses’ death

12 The LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain, Abarim, and look at the land that I've given to the Israelites.
13 You will see it and then join your ancestors just as Aaron your brother has,
14 because in the Zin desert, when the community confronted you, you rebelled against my command to show them my holiness by means of the water." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the Zin desert.)
15 Moses spoke to the LORD:
16 "Let the LORD, the God of all living things, appoint someone over the community
17 who will go out before them and return before them, someone who will lead them out and bring them back, so that the LORD's community won't be like sheep without their shepherd."
18 The LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua, Nun's son, a man who has the spirit, and lay your hand on him.
19 Place him before Eleazar the priest and the entire community and commission him before them.
20 You will give him some of your power so that the entire Israelite community may obey.
21 He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will determine for him the decision by lot before the LORD. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him, the entire community, will go out, and at his command they will return."
22 Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and the entire community.
23 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him 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.

Footnotes 1

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