Numbers 27:21 kjv
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
Numbers 27:21 nkjv
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him?all the congregation."
Numbers 27:21 niv
He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in."
Numbers 27:21 esv
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation."
Numbers 27:21 nlt
When direction from the LORD is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim ? one of the sacred lots cast before the LORD ? to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do."
Numbers 27 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 28:30 | You shall put in the breastpiece of judgment the Urim and the Thummim... | Describes the Urim/Thummim placement. |
| Lev 8:8 | He put the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. | Priestly ordination included Urim/Thummim. |
| Deut 33:8 | And of Levi he said, "Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one." | Highlights Levi's unique priestly responsibility. |
| 1 Sam 14:41-42 | Then Saul said, "O Yahweh, God of Israel, if this iniquity is in me or Jonathan... give Urim..." | Suggests how Urim was used for judgment. |
| 1 Sam 23:9-12 | Then David said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." And David inquired of the Lord... | David seeking God's counsel via ephod/priest. |
| 1 Sam 30:7-8 | David said to Abiathar... "Bring the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David... "Shall I pursue..." | David's consistent reliance on priestly inquiry. |
| Ezr 2:63 | ...until there should be a priest with Urim and with Thummim. | Shows absence of Urim after exile. |
| Neh 7:65 | ...until a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim. | Echoes Ezr 2:63, importance of this divine means. |
| Deut 34:9 | Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him... | Joshua's divine anointing for leadership. |
| Jos 1:1-9 | Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise... Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you... | God's direct commission and promise to Joshua. |
| Jos 9:14 | So the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel from the Lord. | Negative example: consequences of not inquiring. |
| Judg 20:27-28 | And the sons of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there)... | Israel continued to inquire of God for guidance. |
| 1 Sam 8:7 | ...for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. | Israel's move from direct theocracy to monarchy. |
| 1 Kgs 22:5 | And Jehoshaphat said, "Please inquire first for the word of the Lord." | Wise king emphasizes seeking divine guidance. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. | Principle of reliance on God's direction. |
| Ps 32:8 | I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go... | God's promise to guide His people. |
| Ps 25:4-5 | Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths... | Prayer for divine instruction. |
| Isa 30:21 | And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way..." | Prophecy of God's clear guidance for His people. |
| Jer 10:23 | I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. | Emphasizes human inability to direct without God. |
| Rom 12:2 | ...be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God... | New Covenant believer's discernment of God's will. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | ...let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize... | Christ is our Great High Priest, access to grace. |
| Heb 7:25 | Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. | Christ's perpetual priestly intercession. |
Numbers 27 verses
Numbers 27 21 Meaning
Numbers 27:21 describes the mechanism by which Joshua, Israel's new leader, will receive divine guidance after Moses. He is to stand before Eleazar the High Priest, who will seek God's will for him through the sacred Urim. All major decisions, particularly those related to the nation's movement and campaigns ("go out and come in"), for Joshua and all Israel, will be contingent on this divine revelation, thus underscoring God's continued sovereignty over His people and the critical role of the priesthood in mediating His guidance.
Numbers 27 21 Context
This verse is pivotal in the narrative of leadership transition in Israel. Moses, having been told of his impending death, requests the Lord to appoint a new leader for the congregation (Num 27:15-17). The Lord then commands Moses to appoint Joshua, describing him as "a man in whom is the Spirit" (Num 27:18). Joshua is to be presented publicly before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation. Verse 21, specifically, details the procedural and spiritual chain of command: Joshua's authority will not be absolute but subordinate to the divine word, mediated through Eleazar using the sacred Urim. This setup ensured Israel remained a theocracy, directly governed by God, rather than a mere human monarchy. Historically, this system was crucial as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, facing numerous military and logistical challenges that would require direct divine guidance for success. This method also stood in stark contrast to the divination practices of surrounding pagan nations, affirming Yahweh as the sole legitimate source of divine truth and counsel for Israel.
Numbers 27 21 Word analysis
- "he": Refers to Joshua, who is being appointed as Moses' successor. This establishes his dependence on God through the priestly channel.
- "stand before Eleazar the priest": Implies a position of submission and readiness to receive divine instruction through the designated High Priest. Eleazar (אֶלְעָזָר - 'El'azar, meaning "God has helped") succeeded Aaron as High Priest. He represented the sacred, intercessory, and mediatorial arm of the covenant.
- "inquire for him": The act of formally seeking a divine response. This was not Eleazar's personal judgment but a means to obtain God's verdict. The Hebrew verb used suggests a direct, specific request.
- "by the judgment of the Urim": The Urim (אוּרִים - 'Urim, possibly meaning "lights" or "perfections") were sacred objects, along with the Thummim (תֻּמִּים - 'Tumim, meaning "perfections" or "completeness"), placed in the breastplate of the High Priest. Their exact mechanism is not detailed, but they served as an authorized, divinely-appointed means of revealing God's will, particularly for critical "yes/no" or "which way" decisions. This emphasizes divine communication in a non-verbal, concrete manner. "Judgment" implies authoritative and definitive divine decision.
- "before the Lord": Signifies that the inquiry and its answer were directly from God Himself, in His sacred presence, and held ultimate authority. This consecrated the entire process as divinely sanctioned and initiated.
- "at his word": This "his" refers to the Lord's word revealed through the Urim. It means based on God's directive, as communicated by the Urim. This highlights God's sovereignty as the ultimate decision-maker for Israel.
- "they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in": This is an idiom referring to all general activity, encompassing military campaigns (going out to battle, coming in after battle), and broader civic or national undertakings. Every significant movement or decision of the nation, from war to travel, was to be predicated on divine command.
- "both he and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation": This clarifies that the divine guidance received via Eleazar and the Urim was not just for Joshua personally but for the collective body of Israel. Joshua's leadership was for the benefit and direction of the entire community, binding everyone to God's revealed will.
Numbers 27 21 Bonus section
The function of the Urim and Thummim, though mysterious in its mechanics, underscores a period in Israel's history where divine revelation was conveyed through specific physical objects handled by the High Priest. This unique method emphasized that discerning God's will was a sacred, priestly act, distinct from individual human intuition or pagan divination. The eventual cessation of the Urim and Thummim (implied in post-exilic texts like Ezra and Nehemiah) signifies a shift in how God chose to communicate. Ultimately, the prophetic voice, and supremely, the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, became the fuller and final revelation of God's will, surpassing and fulfilling the function of the priestly instruments. Christ is our ultimate High Priest and the embodiment of God's perfect judgment and truth.
Numbers 27 21 Commentary
Numbers 27:21 establishes a fundamental principle of governance for Israel after Moses: the leadership, though human (Joshua), was ultimately subservient to divine authority, mediated through the priesthood. This setup underscored that Israel remained a theocracy, directly under God's rule. The Urim served as a direct link to God's immediate will, ensuring national decisions, especially those pertaining to entering and possessing the land, were not based on human strategy alone but on divine counsel. It placed God as the Commander and ultimate authority for every move of the congregation, fostering a national posture of humility and dependence.