Numbers 11:17

And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which [is] upon thee, and will put [it] upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear [it] not thyself alone.

And I will come down {H3381} and talk {H1696} with thee there: and I will take {H680} of the spirit {H7307} which is upon thee, and will put {H7760} it upon them; and they shall bear {H5375} the burden {H4853} of the people {H5971} with thee, that thou bear {H5375} it not thyself alone.

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit which rests on you and put it on them. Then they will carry the burden of the people along with you, so that you won't carry it yourself alone.

And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.

And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Numbers 11:17 captures a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, illustrating God's compassionate response to Moses' overwhelming burden and His method of empowering others for leadership.

Context

This verse follows a period of intense complaint from the Israelites, who were weary of manna and craved meat, causing Moses immense distress. Moses, feeling the weight of the entire nation on his shoulders, expressed his frustration and inability to lead them alone (Numbers 11:14). In response, God instructs Moses to gather seventy elders of Israel, men known for their leadership and integrity (Numbers 11:16). Verse 17 is God's promise of how He will enable these elders to share the load, a direct divine intervention to alleviate Moses' burden.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment: God promises to take "of the spirit which is upon thee" (Moses) and place it upon the seventy elders. This demonstrates God's ability to bestow divine enabling and spiritual capacity for specific tasks, ensuring His work is accomplished through chosen vessels.
  • Shared Leadership and Delegation: This passage is a foundational example of delegation in biblical leadership. God recognized Moses' need for assistance and provided a supernatural solution, decentralizing some of the immense responsibility. This principle highlights that no one leader should bear the entire burden alone.
  • God's Compassion and Provision: Faced with Moses' despair, God did not rebuke him but provided a practical and spiritual solution. This illustrates God's deep care for His servants, providing the necessary resources and support when they are overwhelmed.
  • The Burden of Leadership: The verse explicitly mentions "bear the burden of the people." This acknowledges the heavy, often exhausting, nature of leading and caring for a large community, emphasizing the need for collective effort and divine strength.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "spirit" here is ruach (רוּחַ), which can mean wind, breath, or spirit. In this context, it refers to the divine power, presence, or enabling influence of God that equipped Moses for his unique leadership role. God's act is not diminishing Moses' spirit but extending its empowering effect to others, allowing them to participate in the divine task of leading the people. It signifies a sharing of God's anointing for service, a tangible transfer of divine capacity.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for leadership, ministry, and even personal life:

  • Don't Bear Burdens Alone: Leaders, whether in church, family, or business, should recognize their limitations and not hesitate to seek help or delegate. God often works through others to lighten our load, reminding us of the importance of community and mutual support.
  • Empowering Others: A key aspect of effective leadership is identifying, equipping, and empowering others to share responsibilities. This not only eases the leader's burden but also develops new leaders and strengthens the community, fostering a more resilient and capable body.
  • God Provides for His Call: Just as God provided for Moses, He provides the necessary spiritual and practical resources for those He calls to serve. When we feel inadequate, we can trust that God will equip us, often through the help of others, to fulfill our responsibilities. This echoes the New Testament principle of bearing one another's burdens, emphasizing interdependence in faith.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Numbers 11:25

    And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that [was] upon him, and gave [it] unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, [that], when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

  • 1 Samuel 10:6

    And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4

    Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:11

    But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:12

    Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

  • 2 Kings 2:9

    ¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

  • 2 Kings 2:15

    And when the sons of the prophets which [were] to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
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