Numbers 11:17

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 11:17 reveals God's compassionate and strategic response to Moses' overwhelming burden of leadership. Faced with the Israelites' incessant complaints and Moses' despair, the Lord promises to descend and supernaturally empower seventy elders by taking "of the spirit" that rests upon Moses and placing it upon them. This divine act ensures that the immense responsibility of leading the people is shared, alleviating Moses' solitary load and establishing a broader, divinely-enabled leadership structure for the nation of Israel in the wilderness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct divine intervention following a period of intense grumbling and dissatisfaction among the Israelites. Having grown weary of the manna God provided, the people began to weep and crave meat, recalling the food they had in Egypt. This widespread lament deeply distressed Moses, who felt the unbearable weight of leading such a demanding multitude. In a moment of profound despair, Moses cried out to God, expressing his inability to bear the entire nation alone and even asking for death if he could not fulfill his calling (see [Numbers 11:10-15](/numbers/11-10 "Numbers 11:10-15 - Israel's Complaining and Moses' Despair")). Numbers 11:16 records God's instruction to Moses to gather seventy elders, men known for their leadership, to the Tent of Meeting. Verse 17 then details God's specific promise of how He would empower these chosen leaders to share Moses' immense burden, providing a supernatural solution to a deeply human problem.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness journey, a period of profound formation for the nascent nation of Israel. Leading a population estimated in the millions, with diverse needs, disputes, and spiritual immaturity, presented an unparalleled challenge. Moses, as the sole divinely appointed mediator and judge, bore an almost impossible load, as even his father-in-law Jethro had recognized earlier (see [Exodus 18:13-27](/exodus/18-13 "Exodus 18:13-27 - Jethro's Counsel on Delegation")). The concept of "elders" was well-established in ancient Near Eastern societies, referring to respected, experienced, and wise men who served as leaders within their communities or tribes. God's command to gather seventy such men was not an innovation of leadership roles but a divine affirmation and empowerment of an existing, albeit informal, structure, now infused with divine enabling to meet the unique demands of the wilderness journey.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 11:17 powerfully illustrates several key themes central to the book of Numbers and biblical theology. Foremost is **Divine Empowerment**, where God directly bestows spiritual capacity and enabling for leadership, demonstrating that true authority and effectiveness in God's service come from Him. It highlights the theme of **Shared Leadership and Delegation**, emphasizing that even the most uniquely gifted leaders, like Moses, are not meant to bear the entire burden alone. This passage serves as a foundational example of God's design for distributed leadership within His people, a principle that echoes throughout the biblical narrative. Furthermore, it underscores **God's Compassion and Provision**, as He responds not with rebuke to Moses' despair but with a practical and supernatural solution, affirming His care for His servants and His commitment to His people. Finally, the verse explicitly acknowledges the **Heavy Burden of Leadership**, recognizing the immense physical, emotional, and spiritual toll that leading a large community can exact, thereby underscoring the necessity of collective effort and divine strength.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spirit (Hebrew, _ruach'_):** The Hebrew word רוּחַ (_ruach_) is rich in meaning, encompassing "wind," "breath," and "spirit." In this context, it refers to the divine enabling, power, and presence of God that equipped Moses for his extraordinary leadership role. God's promise to "take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them" does not imply a diminution or reduction of Moses' own spiritual anointing. Rather, it signifies a replication or extension of the divine capacity that was already upon Moses, allowing others to participate in the divinely-ordained task of leading the people. It is a tangible transfer of God's empowering influence, akin to the anointing of prophets and kings in later Israelite history, enabling the elders to share in the spiritual discernment and administrative capacity required for their new roles.
* **Burden (Hebrew, _masa'_):** The Hebrew word מַשָּׂא (_masa'_) literally means "a load," "a burden," or "a carrying." It can refer to a physical weight, but often in a metaphorical sense, it denotes a heavy responsibility, a difficult task, or even an oracle (as in "the burden of the word of the Lord"). Here, "the burden of the people" refers to the immense responsibility of governing, judging, and caring for the vast and often rebellious Israelite community. It encompasses the emotional, spiritual, and administrative weight that Moses felt was crushing him. God's solution directly addresses this "burden," indicating His understanding of the practical and psychological toll of leadership.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I will come down and talk with thee there":** This clause emphasizes God's direct, personal, and immediate involvement in the crisis. The phrase "come down" is an anthropomorphism, illustrating God's condescension to interact with humanity in a tangible way, as He did at Sinai and in the Tent of Meeting. It reaffirms God's covenant faithfulness and His continued, intimate communication with Moses, even in Moses' moment of weakness. It also underscores that the solution originates solely from God's initiative and power.
* **"and I will take of the spirit which [is] upon thee, and will put [it] upon them":** This is the core of God's supernatural provision. It signifies that the enabling power for leadership comes from God, and that the elders' authority will be derived from the same divine source that empowered Moses. The phrase "take of the spirit" does not mean Moses' spirit is lessened, but rather that the divine Spirit's influence, which equipped Moses, will now be shared and replicated among the seventy elders. It's a distribution of spiritual capacity, not a division or depletion of Moses' anointing, ensuring that the elders are supernaturally qualified for their task.
* **"and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear [it] not thyself alone":** This final clause states the practical purpose and outcome of God's intervention. The elders, now divinely empowered, will share the immense "burden" of leadership, judgment, and care for the people alongside Moses. This directly addresses Moses' complaint of being overwhelmed and ensures that the responsibility is distributed, fostering a more sustainable and effective leadership structure. It highlights God's wisdom in establishing a system of shared responsibility to prevent burnout and ensure the well-being of His chosen leaders.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 11:17 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The phrase "I will come down and talk with thee there" is an example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like actions (coming down, talking) to God to make His divine presence and interaction comprehensible to human understanding. This emphasizes God's immanence and direct involvement in the affairs of His people. The phrase "bear the burden of the people" is a powerful **Metaphor**, representing the immense and heavy responsibilities of leadership as a physical weight. This vivid imagery effectively communicates Moses' feeling of being crushed by the demands of the nation. The entire passage also demonstrates **Divine Condescension**, highlighting God's willingness to humble Himself and intervene directly in human affairs, responding to the cries of His servant Moses. Furthermore, the "spirit" (ruach) functions as **Symbolism** for divine enabling and empowering presence, signifying the intangible yet potent force that qualifies individuals for God's service.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 11:17 is a profound theological statement on the nature of divine leadership and God's provision for His people. It reveals that God is intimately aware of the limitations and struggles of His servants, and He provides supernatural solutions to human challenges. The distribution of the Spirit underscores that spiritual authority and gifting originate solely from God and are given for the purpose of service and the building up of the community. This event foreshadows the broader outpouring of the Spirit in the New Testament, where spiritual gifts are distributed among all believers for the common good, emphasizing that no one person is meant to bear the entire load of ministry alone. It highlights God's design for a community of faith where responsibilities are shared, and diverse gifts contribute to a unified purpose.

* [Exodus 18:13-27](/exodus/18-13 "Exodus 18:13-27 - Jethro's Counsel on Delegation")
* [Acts 6:1-7](/acts/6-1 "Acts 6:1-7 - Appointment of the Seven")
* [1 Corinthians 12:4-11](/1_corinthians/12-4 "1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - Diversity of Spiritual Gifts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 11:17 offers timeless wisdom for leadership, ministry, and indeed, all aspects of life where burdens are borne. It serves as a powerful reminder that even the most capable and divinely appointed leaders are not immune to exhaustion and despair. The passage encourages humility in leadership, recognizing one's limitations and the necessity of seeking help and delegating responsibility. It challenges us to actively identify, equip, and empower others, understanding that true leadership involves raising up new leaders and sharing the load, rather than hoarding authority. For those feeling overwhelmed, it offers immense comfort: God sees your burden and is able to provide the necessary resources, often through the giftedness and support of others within the community. Just as God provided for Moses, He promises to equip those He calls, ensuring that His work is accomplished not by individual strength alone, but through the collective, Spirit-empowered efforts of His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "burdens" in your life or ministry are you attempting to carry alone, and how might God be prompting you to seek help or delegate?**
* **In what ways can you actively empower others within your sphere of influence to share responsibilities and develop their own gifts?**
* **How does this passage encourage you to trust in God's provision and supernatural enabling when you feel inadequate for a task He has called you to?**

### FAQ
**Did Moses' spirit diminish when God "took of the spirit which is upon thee"?**

Answer: No, the text does not imply that Moses' spiritual anointing or capacity was diminished. The phrase "take of the spirit" (Hebrew: `nasa` - to lift, take, bear) in this context signifies a replication or extension of the divine Spirit's empowering influence, not a subtraction. Think of it like lighting seventy new candles from one existing flame; the original flame does not lessen, but its light is multiplied. God's Spirit is infinite and inexhaustible. This act ensured that the seventy elders received the same divine enabling that qualified Moses for his unique role, allowing them to share the administrative and judicial burden without diminishing Moses' unique prophetic and mediatorial relationship with God. The purpose was to empower others to bear the burden *with* Moses, not to lessen Moses' personal spiritual endowment.

**Is this a model for all leadership and spiritual gifting today?**

Answer: Yes, Numbers 11:17 provides foundational principles that resonate throughout biblical leadership and the distribution of spiritual gifts. It powerfully illustrates the importance of delegation, shared responsibility, and the divine source of spiritual empowerment. Leaders today are called to recognize their limitations, avoid burnout by sharing the load, and actively identify and equip others for service. Just as God poured out His Spirit on the elders, the New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit distributes diverse gifts to all believers for the common good of the body of Christ (see [1 Corinthians 12:4-11](/1_corinthians/12-4 "1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - Diversity of Spiritual Gifts")). This passage underscores that God's work is accomplished through a community of Spirit-empowered individuals, not through isolated, overburdened leaders. The principle of bearing one another's burdens (see [Galatians 6:2](/galatians/6-2 "Galatians 6:2 - Bearing One Another's Burdens")) is deeply rooted in this Old Testament example of divine provision and shared ministry.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 11:17, with its depiction of the Spirit being distributed to empower leaders and alleviate a burden, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit. While Moses was a great leader who bore an immense burden, Jesus is the ultimate burden-bearer, inviting all who are weary and heavy-laden to find rest in Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (see [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus' Invitation to the Weary")). The Spirit that was "taken of" Moses and put upon the elders is but a foreshadowing of the Spirit given without measure to Christ (see [John 3:34](/john/3-34 "John 3:34 - The Spirit Given Without Measure")). Furthermore, the partial distribution of the Spirit to seventy elders in the Old Testament anticipates the comprehensive outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all believers at Pentecost (see [Acts 2:1-4](/acts/2-1 "Acts 2:1-4 - The Day of Pentecost")), fulfilling the prophetic promise that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. Through Christ, the Spirit is no longer limited to a select few leaders but indwells every believer, empowering them for service and enabling the entire body of Christ to collectively bear the burdens of the world and carry out God's mission (see [John 14:16](/john/14-16 "John 14:16 - The Promise of the Helper"); [Romans 12:4-8](/romans/12-4 "Romans 12:4-8 - Gifts for Service")). Thus, the temporary solution for Moses' burden points to the permanent and universal indwelling of the Spirit, establishing a new community where Christ's burden is shared by all His empowered followers.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.