15 And Moses speaketh unto Jehovah, saying, 16 'Jehovah—God of the spirits of all flesh—appoint a man over the company, 17 who goeth out before them, and who cometh in before them, and who taketh them out, and who bringeth them in, and the company of Jehovah is not as sheep which have no shepherd.' 18 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Take to thee Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom 'is' the Spirit, and thou hast laid thine hand upon him, 19 and hast caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the company, and hast charged him before their eyes, 20 and hast put of thine honour upon him, so that all the company of the sons of Israel do hearken. 21 'And before Eleazar the priest he standeth, and he hath asked for him by the judgment of the Lights before Jehovah; at His word they go out, and at His word they come in; he, and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the company.' 22 And Moses doth as Jehovah hath commanded him, and taketh Joshua, and causeth him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the company, 23 and layeth his hands upon him, and chargeth him, as Jehovah hath spoken by the hand of 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.