15 Then Moses said to the Lord, 16 Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, put a man at the head of this people, 17 To go out and come in before them and be their guide; so that the people of the Lord may not be like sheep without a keeper. 18 And the Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and put your hand on him; 19 And take him before Eleazar the priest and all the meeting of the people, and give him his orders before their eyes. 20 And put your honour on him, so that all the children of Israel may be under his authority. 21 He will take his place before Eleazar the priest, so that he may get directions from the Lord for him, with the Urim: at his word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, he and all the children of Israel. 22 So Moses did as the Lord said: he took Joshua and put him before Eleazar the priest and the meeting of the people: 23 And he put his hands on him and gave him his orders, as the Lord had said by Moses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 27:15-23
Commentary on Numbers 27:15-23
(Read Numbers 27:15-23)
Envious spirits do not love their successors; but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may be maintained and advanced, when we are in our graves. God appoints a successor, even Joshua; who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, his humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in witnessing against the report of the evil spies. This man God appoints to succeed Moses; a man in whom is the Spirit, the Spirit of grace. He is a good man, fearing God and hating covetousness, and acting from principle. He has the spirit of government; he is fit to do the work and discharge the trusts of his place. He has a spirit of conduct and courage; he had also the Spirit of prophecy. That man is not fully qualified for any service in the church of Christ, who is destitute of the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit, whatever human abilities he may possess. And in Joshua's succession we are reminded "that the law was given by Moses," who by reason of our transgression could not bring us to heaven; but "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," for the salvation of every believer.