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.
Joshua must stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek God's guidance for him using the Urim to determine the Lord's will. When the priest gives God's answer, Joshua and all the Israelites, the entire community, will follow those instructions about when to go into battle and when to return.
God is establishing that Joshua, as the new leader after Moses, must seek divine guidance through the priest before making major decisions for the nation.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Numbers, this verse occurs during the Israelites' time in the wilderness as Moses prepares to pass on leadership to Joshua, ensuring a smooth transition before entering the Promised Land. Eleazar the priest was designated to use the Urim, a sacred method involving lots or objects in the high priest's breastplate, to seek God's direct guidance for Joshua's decisions. This practice highlighted the importance of divine direction through the priesthood for the community's movements and actions.
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