Numbers 27:15-23

I. JOSHUA APPOINTED TO SUCCEED MOSES vv. 15-23
TEXT

Numbers 27:15. And Moses spoke unto the Lord, saying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 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: that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

18. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19. And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20. And thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23. And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 27:15. Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16. May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17. who may go out before them and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; in this way the congregation of the Lord will not be as sheep which have no shepherd.

18. So the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand upon him; 19. and have him stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and charge him in their sight. 20. And you shall invest him with some of your authority, so that all the congregation of Israel may be obedient unto him. 21. Furthermore, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall seek counsel for him according to the judgment of Urim before the Lord. Upon his word they shall go out, and upon his word they shall come in, both he and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the assembly. 23. Then he placed his hands upon him and gave him the charge, as the Lord commanded through Moses.

COMMENTARY

In what we must consider a typical action, Moses shows more concern for the children of Israel than for his own welfare. He knows that his time on earth is very limited, and that he cannot lead his people across the Jordan. He knows also that they must not be left without competent leadership; so, without so much as a word to gainsay the verdict of God, he makes the simple request that a man be appointed by God as his successor. This is no small request. Moses has established such an imposing image of capable leadership that any man must suffer by comparison. It is also in Moses-' favor that he does not ask for the privilege of naming this man, or that he does not claim, the position for his descendants by right of birth alone. God only can capably fill the position, and Moses will not interfere; it is a lesson God had to teach Samuel by direct revelation (see 1 Samuel 16:6 ff.). The next leader of Israel must handle the rigorous demands of daily business; he must be a military man to lead in driving out the Canaanites; he must be a man of great spiritual depth and intensity to stabilize a fickle people; he must be a patient man to endure their gainsaying and criticism; he must be a respectable man whose word they can believe and follow; he must be a man of moral integrity to set a proper example and to administer justice to those whose lives would seriously defy the righteous standards of God; he must be a meek man whose head will not be turned by the honor given him in his position; he must be courageous to resist the taunts and opposition of the enemy, as well as the indifference and grumbling of his own people. In short, he must be a man very much like Moses himself. Moses certainly would not have said it, but the circumstances and the facts require it.

God does not hesitate in rendering His decision: the man is Joshua. The son of Nun was a man filled with God's own Spirit (Numbers 27:18), who had proved himself again and again under a variety of extreme circumstances. The choice is logical, and fully justified by history. Caleb, who might also have been considered for the position, is much less well known to us through the pages of Scripture, which may indicate lesser ability in some area, or lesser strength of character. But the choice cannot be criticized.

The laying on of hands in Scripture indicates the transfer of power inherent in an office being assumed. For his special work, Joshua will need a special dispensation of God's grace. While Moses could not and did not transfer all of his traits or powers to Joshua, he is to command the respect and obedience of the people as Moses had. The ceremony doubtless was done publicly to let everyone know of the transfer.
An essential difference between Moses and Joshua emerges when Joshua is told to stand before Eleazar in order to seek counsel in his work. Moses was of the priestly line himself, and stood above all priests, not excluding Aaron himself. Joshua's leadership is civil and military, and he is under the religious heads of the nation just as any other individual was. Joshua was not a lawgiver: he was under the Law and its primary executives, the priests.

In serious national matters Eleazar himself was obligated to approach the Lord in behalf of Joshua via the Urim. While there is much we do not know of the Urim and the companion Thummim, they were uniquely worn and used by the high priest to determine the counsel of Jehovah for His people in matters of grave nature. These lights and perfections were stones of various kinds, set in the breastplate when the high priest entered into the divine Presence for the specific purpose of gaining God's decision when it was required, (see Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8).

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

507.

Show how Moses-' conduct at this time reflects his great stature of spirit.

508.

Why should the place of leadership of the people not be left to ancestral descent? to the choice of the people? to Moses himself?

509.

List the singular qualifications which Joshua possessed for the office to which God chose him.

510.

What special duties would fall to Moses-' successor? With what we have already learned of Joshua, which of these duties seem appropriate to him?

511.

What significance is attached to the laying on of hands here?

512.

Why was this done publicly?

513.

Is there significance in asking Joshua to come before Eleazar? Explain your answer.

514.

Explain the Urim and Thummim. How do they relate to Joshua?