Read Verse Keyword Strong's
Prev

Numbers 27:21

Next

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.

And he shall stand {H5975} before {H6440} Eleazar {H499} the priest {H3548}, who shall ask {H7592} counsel for him after the judgment {H4941} of Urim {H224} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}: at his word {H6310} shall they go out {H3318}, and at his word {H6310} they shall come in {H935}, both he, and all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} with him, even all the congregation {H5712}.

He is to present himself to El'azar the cohen, who is to find out by means of the urim what ADONAI's will is for Y'hoshua's decisions. Then, at his word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, both he and all the people of Isra'el with him, the whole community."

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Jehovah: 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.

Commentary

Numbers 27:21 outlines the divine protocol for leadership in ancient Israel, specifically concerning Joshua's succession to Moses. This verse establishes the mechanism through which Joshua, as the new leader, would consistently receive direct guidance from the LORD for the entire nation.

Context

This verse is part of the crucial transition period in Israel's history, immediately following God's instruction to Moses to appoint Joshua as his successor. In the preceding verses (Numbers 27:18-20), Moses lays his hands on Joshua, publicly commissioning him before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation. Verse 21 then details the specific method for Joshua to discern God's will, ensuring that his leadership would always be under divine authority and not based on human discretion alone. This was vital for a nation about to enter the promised land and engage in numerous battles and settlements.

Key Themes

  • Divine Guidance for Leadership: The primary message is that even divinely appointed leaders like Joshua must continually seek God's counsel. Their authority is derived from God, and their decisions must reflect His will. This principle applies to all who lead in God's service.
  • The Role of the Priesthood: Eleazar, the high priest, serves as the essential intermediary between God and Joshua. This highlights the indispensable function of the priesthood in Old Testament Israel as custodians of divine revelation and intercessors for the people.
  • Corporate Dependence on God: The phrase "at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in" emphasizes that the entire congregation of Israel, not just Joshua, was subject to and dependent upon God's explicit direction for all their movements, whether in warfare or daily life. This fostered a national identity rooted in obedience to God.
  • Order and Authority: A clear chain of command is established: God communicates His will through the priest (via the Urim) to Joshua, who then leads the people accordingly. This structure provided stability and prevented arbitrary or self-serving leadership.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "judgment of Urim" refers to the Urim and Thummim, mysterious objects kept within the high priest's breastplate. While their exact nature and operation are not fully detailed in scripture, they were used as a means of divine revelation, typically for obtaining a clear "yes" or "no" answer or specific direction from the LORD on matters of national importance. This method of inquiry was a unique form of divine communication, distinct from prophetic utterances, and ensured governmental decisions were God-ordained.

Practical Application

For believers today, Numbers 27:21 offers timeless lessons:

  • Seeking God's Will in All Things: Just as Joshua was to consistently inquire of the Lord, we are called to seek God's will in our personal lives, families, and churches. While we no longer use Urim and Thummim, God guides us through His Word, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and wise counsel (Proverbs 3:5-6).
  • Respect for Spiritual Authority: The verse underscores the importance of God-ordained spiritual leadership. While the roles differ, the principle of God working through appointed leaders to guide His people remains. We should pray for and respect those who faithfully lead according to biblical principles.
  • Corporate Obedience: The dependence of "all the children of Israel" on God's word reminds us that the church, as a collective body, is meant to move forward in unity, under the supreme leadership of Christ, our ultimate High Priest and King.
  • Humility in Leadership: This passage serves as a powerful reminder that all human authority, especially in spiritual matters, is derived from God. Leaders are called to humility, recognizing their role as servants who facilitate God's purposes, rather than imposing their own.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 28:6 (5 votes)

    And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

  • Joshua 9:14 (5 votes)

    And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD.

  • Exodus 28:30 (5 votes)

    And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

  • Nehemiah 7:65 (3 votes)

    And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood [up] a priest with Urim and Thummim.

  • Ezra 2:63 (2 votes)

    And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

  • Judges 20:23 (2 votes)

    (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

  • Numbers 27:17 (2 votes)

    Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.