Leadership Change

27:12 13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range,14 and see15 the land I have given16 to the Israelites. 27:13 When you have seen it, you will be gathered17 to your ancestors,18 as Aaron your brother was gathered to his ancestors.19 27:14 For20 in the wilderness of Zin when the community rebelled against me, you21 rebelled against my command22 to show me as holy23 before their eyes over the water—the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.”

27:15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord: 27:16 “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all humankind,24 appoint25 a man over the community, 27:17 who will go out before them, and who will come in before them,26 and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that27 the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”

27:18 The Lord replied28 to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit,29 and lay your hand on him;30 27:19 set him31 before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission32 him publicly.33 27:20 Then you must delegate34 some of your authority35 to him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will be obedient.36 27:21 And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who37 will seek counsel38 for him before the Lord by the decision of the Urim.39 At his command40 they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.”

27:22 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and set41 him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. 27:23 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord commanded,42 by the authority43 of Moses.