Numbers 27:16

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

Numbers 27:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:16

Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh
The Maker of the souls of men, called the spirits of all flesh, or of corporeal beings, to distinguish them from the angels, who, though spirits, are incorporeal; and who knows the different qualities of the souls of men, their powers, and capacities, and fitness for service, what gifts and talents they have for business; and who can bestow such upon them, which will quality them for it:

set a man over the congregation:
meaning in his room and stead.

Numbers 27:16 In-Context

14 because in the Tzin Desert, when the community was disputing with me, you rebelled against my order to uphold my holiness by means of the water, with them looking on." (This was M'rivat-Kadesh Spring, in the Tzin Desert.)

15 Moshe said to ADONAI,

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.