and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses.
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
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
And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. (i) How he should govern himself in his office.