And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,
Here, I. Moses prays for a successor. When God had told him that he must die, though it appears elsewhere that he solicited for a reprieve for himself (Deu 3:24, Deu 3:25), yet, when this could not be obtained, he begged earnestly that the work of God might be carried on, though he might not have the honour of finishing it.
Commenting on Numbers 27:15-23
And he laid his hands upon him,.... Jarchi observes, that he did this cheerfully, and did more than he was commanded; for the Lord said to him, "lay thine hand", but he laid both his hands: and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded Moses; Num 27:19, this is a clear proof that Moses was no imposter, since he sought not to aggrandize his...
JOSHUA APPOINTED TO SUCCEED HIM. (Num 27:18-23) Take thee Joshua . . . a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him--A strong testimony is here borne to the personality of the divine Spirit--the imposition of hands was an ancient ceremony. (See Gen 48:14; Lev 1:4; Ti1 4:14).
Commenting on Numbers 27:18-23