Bible Strands
Numbers 27:23
and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses acts to transfer authority to Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the entire congregation. This public succession occurs immediately after God commands the leadership transition in Numbers 27 and Moses executes the initial preparatory steps in verse 22.
The words — The narrative centers on וַ/יִּסְמֹ֧ךְ (va/i.yis.Mokh), literally "and he laid [his hands]," and וַ/יְצַוֵּ֑/הוּ (va/y.tza.Ve./hu), literally "and he commissioned him." These paired verbs describe the physical gesture of laying hands and the formal act of entrusting official responsibility.
The thread — This succession motif reappears when Moses is later commanded to commission Joshua and strengthen him (Deuteronomy 3:28). The same public commissioning before Eleazar and the congregation is pre-recorded in the earlier command (Numbers 27:19) and echoed in Moses' final address to Joshua before all Israel (Deuteronomy 31:7).
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to recognize that leadership transfer is a public, commanded act rather than a private appointment. It demands acknowledgment that authority is delegated through established divine instruction and witnessed by the community.
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 laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 3:28 But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”
- Numbers 27:19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight.
- Deuteronomy 31:7 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance.