12 Then the Lord said to Moses , "Go up to this mountain of Abarim , and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel . 13 "When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people , as Aaron your brother was; 14 for in the wilderness of Zin , during the strife of the congregation , you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water ." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin .)
15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord , saying , 16 " May the Lord , the God of the spirits of all flesh , appoint a man over the congregation , 17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 27:12-17
Commentary on Numbers 27:12-14
(Read Numbers 27:12-14)
Moses must die, but he shall have the satisfaction of seeing the land of promise. This sight of Canaan signified his believing prospect of the better country, that is, the heavenly. Moses must die, but death does not cut him off; it only brings him to rest with the holy patriarchs. It is but to die as they died, having lived as they lived; and as their end was peace, why should we fear any evil in the passage of that dark valley?
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.