Numbers 27:17-19 New English Translation
17 who will go out before them, and who will come in before them,[a] and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that[b] the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”
18 The Lord replied[c] to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit,[d] and lay your hand on him;[e] 19 set him[f] before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission[g] him publicly.[h]
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- Numbers 27:17 sn This is probably technical terminology for a military leader (Josh 14:11; 1 Sam 18:13-16; 1 Kgs 3:7; 2 Kgs 11:9). The image of a shepherd can also be military in nature (1 Kgs 22:17).
- Numbers 27:17 tn The Hebrew text has the conjunction with the negated imperfect tense, “and it will not be.” This clause should be subordinated to the preceding to form a result clause, and the imperfect then function as a final imperfect.
- Numbers 27:18 tn Or “said.”
- Numbers 27:18 sn The word “spirit” probably refers to the Holy Spirit. This would likely be a permanent endowment for Joshua. But it is also possible to take it to refer to a proper spirit to do all the things required of such a leader (which ultimately is a gift from the Spirit of God). The Hebrew text simply says “in whom is a spirit.”
- Numbers 27:18 sn This symbolic act would indicate the transfer of leadership to Joshua.
- Numbers 27:19 tn This could be translated “position him,” or “have him stand,” since it is the causative stem of the verb “to stand.”
- Numbers 27:19 tn The verb is the Piel perfect of צִוָּה (tsivvah, literally “to command”). The verb has a wide range of meanings, and so here in this context the idea of instructing gives way to a more general sense of commissioning for duty. The verb in sequence is equal to the imperfect of instruction.
- Numbers 27:19 tn Heb “in their eyes.”
New English Translation (NET)
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