Numbers 27:17

17 who will go out before them and come back in before them,^[a] and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord's community won't be like sheep without a shepherd."^[b]

Numbers 27:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:17

Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them,
and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in
Which may lead them out, and go before them in war, and command them in battle and bring them in peace, having conquered their enemies; or these phrases only mean the administration of civil government among them, and diligence and assiduity in it, see ( 2 Chronicles 1:10 ) , unless it has any peculiar respect to the leading the people of Israel out of the wilderness, and introducing them into the land of Canaan:

that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no
shepherd;
and so wander about, having none to guide them into proper pastures, or to protect them from beasts of prey; which is to be in a most forlorn and distressed condition; see ( Matthew 9:36 ) .

Numbers 27:17 In-Context

15 So Moses appealed to the Lord,

16 "May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community

17 who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord's community won't be like sheep without a shepherd."

18 The Lord replied to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Jos 14:11; 1 Sm 18:13-16; 2 Sm 5:2; 11:1; 1 Kg 3:7; 2 Kg 11:9
• [b]. 1 Kg 22:17; Ezk 34:5