Numbers 27:12-22

12Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.

13After you have seen it, you will also be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was.

14When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against my command to demonstrate my holiness in their sight at the waters.” Those were the Waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

15So Moses appealed to the Lord,

16“May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all, appoint a man over the community

17who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.”

18The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

19Have him stand before the priest Eleazar and the whole community, and commission him in their sight.

20Confer some of your authority on him so that the entire Israelite community will obey him.

21He will stand before the priest Eleazar who will consult the Lord for him with the decision of the Urim. He and all the Israelites with him, even the entire community, will go out and come back in at his command.”

22Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before the priest Eleazar and the entire community,