The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 387

to overcome the reluctance of the present leader by a Divine command. No sooner does Moses receive notice to demit than he prays for a successor, and begs that his .eyes may see him before he dies. His experience of the government makes him dread the dangers of an interregnum. "Sheep without a shepherd," such would the tribes be without a leader; unable to keep order among themselves, and exposed to every enemy, It betokened great nobility of soul in Moses that this was the thought uppermost in his mind on hearing that his hour was come. The paramount feeling of his heart was concern for the honour of the Lord and the good of Israel after his decease. Some 1nen cannot endure the sight of a successor; Moses earnestly desired to see his successor before he died, Such being his desire, see where he carries it. "Let the Lord set a man over tlie congregatim." From the Lord he had received his commission at the bush; from the Lord he sues for a successor. Moses was emphatically the '' servant of the Lord ; '' and none but the Lord has authority to nominate the heir to so high an office. Moses has another reason for turning God• wards at this time. None but the Lord knows the fittest man, or can furnish him with the wisdom and valour the office will crave. He is "the God of the irpiriu of all.flesh." He made men's souls, and he knows them. He admits them into mtimacy with himself. He is their Saviour and Portion. When the Church, or any part of it, finds itself in want of a man fit to be introsted with some office of high responsi- bility, or to be sent forth on some peculiarly difficult mission, this is the quarter to which it must tum. The God of the spirits of all flesh can furnish them with the man they want ; He, and no other. II. ON WHOM THE APPOINTMENT WAS BESTOWED. '.' Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit." Joshua was no stranger to Moses; he had been "Moses' minister from his youth" ( eh. xi. 28), and known to him as a man every way fitted to be his successor. He must have thought of him; yet he did not presume to suggest bis name; he waited to hear what the Lord would speak. N.B. When Moses was about to die and a succeesor was sought, it turned out that the Lord had anticipated the want. The successor of Moses was in training for forty years before Moses died. This happens oftener than many suppose. III. THE MANNER OF THE INVESTITURE. 1. Joshua was ~resented to the congrega- tion in a public assembly. To be sure, he owed his appomtment to Divine nomin- ation, not to popular election. He was, like Moses, the Lord's vicegerent. Never- theless, +.he people were acknowledged in the appointment. They were to be Joshua's subjects, but not his slaves. Accordingly, it was judged only fair and right that they should be informed publicly of the appointment; that they should witness the investiture and hear the charge (cf. eh. x:x. 27). 2. Moses laid his hands upon him. This is the earliest example in Scripture of a rite of investiture which was afterwards much in use, which was transferred by the apostles to the New Testament Church, and is the familiar custom of the Churches of Christ still. The terms in which it is here enjoined place the intention of it in a clear light. (1) It denoted the investiture of Joshua with the office of leader and commander in succession to Moses. "Thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation may be obedient" (ver. 20}. Not all his honour; for Moses was set over all God's house, and in that respect had no successor; but part of his honour, particularl:r. that part in virtue of which he was captain of the host of Israel (cf. Acts vi 6; :nii. 3). (2) It denoted also the bestowment on Joshua of the gifts appropriate to his new office. Not that Joshua was, till now, without valour or wisdom. During his long apprenticeship of forty years he had given abundant evidence of a rich dowry of these virtues. But the laying on of the hands of Moses by Divine command was a token and pledge that a double portion of his master's spirit would be thenceforward bestowed, to strengthen him to take up his master's tnsk and carry it forward to completion. The pledge was redeemed, "Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him" (Deut. xxx:iv. 9; cf. 1 Tim. iv. 14). 8. Moses gave him a charge. The scope and substance of the charge are recorded in Deut. iii. 28 and xxxi. 7, 8. The design of this part of the servioe was twofold. On the one hand, Moses faithfully expounded the duties belonging to the office with which he was now invested, He certified him that it was no idle di~nity he was now entering upon, but an arduous work. And this was done not withm a tent, or in some solitary 3i4 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [CH. XXVII, 12---'23,.