Numbers 27:15-23

New International Version

¹⁵ Moses said to the Lord, ¹⁶ “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things,^(A) appoint someone over this community ¹⁷ to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”^(B)

¹⁸ So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,^[a](C) and lay your hand on him.^{(D) 19} Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him^(E) in their presence.^{(F) 20} Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.^{(G) 21} He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring^(H) of the Urim^(I) 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.”

²² Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him,^(J) as the Lord instructed through Moses.