🔢WEB · Numbers 27:17
What does Numbers 27:17 mean?
"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; that the congregation of Yahweh may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”"
— Numbers 27:17 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying,
“Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
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; that the congregation of Yahweh may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.
You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.
Explanation
This verse comes from a prayer Moses offers to God after being told that he will not enter the Promised Land because of his earlier disobedience at the waters of Meribah. Rather than dwelling on his own disappointment, Moses' immediate concern is for the future of Israel. He asks God to appoint a successor who can lead the people effectively — someone who can "go out" and "come in" before them, language that in the Old Testament typically refers to leading troops into battle and bringing them safely home, as well as guiding the community's daily affairs. Moses is asking for a capable, present leader so that Israel will not be left directionless.
The context is critical to understanding the verse's weight. Numbers 27 takes place near the end of the wilderness wanderings, as Israel stands poised to enter Canaan under new leadership. Moses has served as prophet, judge, and military leader for forty years, and his death is approaching. God responds to his request by instructing him to commission Joshua, laying hands on him publicly before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, transferring authority in a visible, orderly way. This passage is written by Moses (traditionally understood as author of the Pentateuch) as part of the historical narrative of Israel's journey toward the land promised to Abraham.
Theologically, the verse highlights the vulnerability of a community without proper leadership. The image of "sheep without a shepherd" is a recurring biblical metaphor for people who are scattered, vulnerable, exposed to danger, and lacking guidance and protection (see also 1 Kings 22:17
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