Numbers 27:12-23

Moses Requests a Successor

12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range ^[a] and see the land that I have given the Israelites. ¹

13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;

14 for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah ^[b] in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

15 So Moses appealed to the LORD,

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

17 who will 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 like sheep without a shepherd.”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

18 And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. ²

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

20 Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.

21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. ^[c] At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

22 Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,

23 and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed 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 3:23–29)
• 2. (Deuteronomy 31:1–8)

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX Go up Mount Nebo beyond the Jordan
• [b]. Meribah means quarreling; see Exodus 17:7.
• [c]. Literally the Lights