Numbers 27:16-23

16 "Let ADONAI, God of the spirits of all human beings, appoint a man to be over the community,

17 to go out and come in ahead of them, to lead them out and bring them in, so that ADONAI's community will not be like sheep without a shepherd."

18 ADONAI said to Moshe, "Take Y'hoshua the son of Nun, a spiritual man, and lay your hand on him.

19 Put him in front of El'azar the cohen and the whole community, and commission him in their sight.

20 Delegate to him some of your authority, so that the entire community of Isra'el will obey him.

21 He is to present himself to El'azar the cohen, who is to find out by means of the urim what ADONAI's will is for Y'hoshua's decisions. Then, at his word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, both he and all the people of Isra'el with him, the whole community."

22 Moshe did as ADONAI had ordered him. He took Y'hoshua, put him before El'azar the cohen and the whole community,

23 laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as ADONAI had said through Moshe.

Numbers 27:16-23 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.