Numbers 27:18

18 So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him;

Numbers 27:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:18

And the Lord said unto Moses
In answer to his request:

take thou Joshua the son of Nun,
who had been a servant of his near forty years, and of whose humility, diligence, faithfulness and integrity he had sufficient proof, as well as of his skill and courage in military affairs, particularly at the battle with Amalek, ( Exodus 17:9-13 ) ( 24:13 ) ( 33:11 ) :

a man in whom is the Spirit:
not only in whom is a spirit or soul, which is in every man; but the Spirit of God, and that not only as a spirit of grace and sanctification, which is in every good man; but as a spirit of prophecy, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; or rather it respects the more than ordinary gifts of the Spirit qualifying him for government, as courage and conduct, wisdom, prudence, and greatness of mind:

and lay thine hand upon him;
thereby transferring the government to him, pointing him out to the people as his successor; to show to the children of Israel that he was in his place, as Aben Ezra notes; upon which followed a larger measure of the gifts of the Spirit of God; see ( Deuteronomy 34:9 ) .

Numbers 27:18 In-Context

16 "Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint someone over the congregation

17 who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep without a shepherd."

18 So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him;

19 have him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.

20 You shall give him some of your authority, so that all the congregation of the Israelites may obey.