23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.
23 and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.
23 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, following the procedures God had given Moses.
23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
23 Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 27:23
Commentary on Numbers 27:15-23
(Read Numbers 27:15-23)
Envious spirits do not love their successors; but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may be maintained and advanced, when we are in our graves. God appoints a successor, even Joshua; who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, his humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in witnessing against the report of the evil spies. This man God appoints to succeed Moses; a man in whom is the Spirit, the Spirit of grace. He is a good man, fearing God and hating covetousness, and acting from principle. He has the spirit of government; he is fit to do the work and discharge the trusts of his place. He has a spirit of conduct and courage; he had also the Spirit of prophecy. That man is not fully qualified for any service in the church of Christ, who is destitute of the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit, whatever human abilities he may possess. And in Joshua's succession we are reminded "that the law was given by Moses," who by reason of our transgression could not bring us to heaven; but "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," for the salvation of every believer.