🔢WEB · Numbers 27:20
What does Numbers 27:20 mean?
"You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey."
— Numbers 27:20 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
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.
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
Moses did as Yahweh commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation.
He laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.
Explanation
Numbers 27:20 records God's instruction to Moses regarding the transfer of leadership to Joshua. In plain terms, God tells Moses to publicly invest Joshua with a measure of his own authority and honor, so that the Israelites will recognize Joshua as their legitimate leader and follow his direction after Moses is gone. This is not merely a private appointment but a visible transfer meant to secure the people's trust and obedience.
The context is the closing chapters of Numbers, as the wilderness generation is dying out and Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land. Moses, having been told he will not enter Canaan because of his earlier disobedience at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20:12), asks God to appoint a successor so the people will not be like "sheep without a shepherd" (Numbers 27:15-17). God chooses Joshua, a man already described as having "the Spirit" in him, and instructs Moses to commission him formally before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, laying hands on him as a sign of blessing and authorization (27:18-23). Verse 20 specifically addresses the practical need: Joshua must be given enough of Moses' recognized authority
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