Numbers 27:15-23

15 To whom Moses answered,

16 The Lord God of the spirits of all flesh, purvey a man, that he be on this multitude, (May the Lord God of the spirits of all people purvey a man who shall be over these people,)

17 and that may go out (and who can go out), and enter in before them, and lead them out, and lead them in, lest the people of the Lord be as sheep without (a) shepherd.

18 And the Lord said to Moses, Take thou Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom the spirit of God is (a man in whom is the spirit of God), and put thine hand upon him;

19 and he shall stand before Eleazar, the priest, and before all the multitude. And thou shalt give to him behests, in the sight of all men (And thou shalt give him his orders, or his commission, in the sight of all the people),

20 and a part of thy glory, that all the synagogue of the sons of Israel hear him. (and some of thy authority, so that all the congregation of the Israelites shall listen to him, and shall follow him.)

21 If anything shall be worthy to be done for this man, Joshua, Eleazar, the priest, shall counsel the Lord; he shall go out, and shall go in, at the word of Eleazar; he, and all the sons of Israel with him, and the tother multitude. (And if anything shall be worthy to be done for this man, Joshua, Eleazar, the priest, shall ask counsel from the Urim and the Thummim, before the Lord; he shall go out, and shall go in, at the word of Eleazar; he, and all the multitude of the Israelites.)

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded, and when he had taken Joshua, he set him before Eleazar, the priest; and before all the multitude of the people;

23 and when he had put his hands upon his head, he rehearsed all things that the Lord commanded. (and when he had laid his hands upon his head, he repeated all the things that the Lord had commanded.)

Numbers 27:15-23 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.