Numbers 27:12-23

12 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land that I have given to the {Israelites}.
13 When you see it, you will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered,
14 because you rebelled against my word in the desert of Zin when the community quarreled regarding my holiness at the waters." (These [are] the waters of Meribah-Kadesh [in] the desert of Zin.)

Joshua Succeeds Moses

15 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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}.
21 He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will ask for him by the decision of the Urim before Yahweh. On {his command} they will go out, and at {his command} they will come in, [both] he and all of the {Israelites} with him, the entire community."
22 Moses did just as Yahweh commanded him, and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community.
23 And he placed his hands on him and {commissioned him} just as Yahweh spoke by the hand of 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 10

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [b]. Literally "command him"
  • [c]. Literally "before their eyes"
  • [d]. Literally "hear [him]"
  • [e]. Or "judgment"
  • [f]. Literally "his word"
  • [g]. Literally "his word"
  • [h]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [i]. Literally "commanded him"
  • [j]. Or "through Moses"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.