Numbers 27:18-19

27:18 The Lord replied ¹  to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit, ²  and lay your hand on him; ³  27:19 set him ⁴  before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission ⁵  him publicly. ⁶ 

Numbers 27:23

27:23 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord commanded, ⁷  by the authority ⁸  of Moses.

[27:18]  ¹ tn Or “said.”

[27:18]  ² sn The word “spirit” probably refers to the Holy Spirit, in which case it would be rendered “in whom is the 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.”

[27:18]  ³ sn This symbolic act would indicate the transfer of leadership to Joshua.

[27:19]  ⁴ tn This could be translated “position him,” or “have him stand,” since it is the causative stem of the verb “to stand.”

[27:19]  ⁵ 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.

[27:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “in their eyes.”

[27:23]  ⁷ tn Heb “spoke.”

[27:23]  ⁸ tn Heb “hand.”