Bible Strands
Numbers 27:21
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses relays the LORD’s instruction regarding Joshua’s succession, directing that he stand before Eleazar the priest to receive guidance for the congregation. This occurs at the leadership transition point immediately preceding the Israelites' movement into the land.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁאַל (sha'al) translates literally as "he will enquire," while מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) means "judgment" or "decision." These terms specify the exact mechanism Eleazar will use to obtain divine direction through the Urim.
The thread — The Urim inquiry mechanism appears in Exodus 28:30 for Aaron’s breastpiece, is noted as unrequested in Joshua 9:14, and is recorded as unanswered in 1 Samuel 28:6. These passages track the Urim as a specific, non-universal channel for divine judgment.
Why it lands — The text states that Joshua and the entire congregation will go out and come in only at Eleazar’s command following Urim inquiry. It requires readers to acknowledge that communal movement depends on verified priestly mediation rather than autonomous strategy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
Cross-references
- Exodus 28:30 And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.
- Joshua 9:14 Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 28:6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- Leviticus 8:8 Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece.
- Numbers 27:17 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 without a shepherd.”
- Deuteronomy 33:8 Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
- Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
- Judges 20:18 The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.
- Judges 20:23 They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”
- Judges 20:26 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.