What role does the priest play in discerning God's will in Numbers 27:21? Setting of Numbers 27:21 “So he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, even the entire congregation.” ( ) Who Is Eleazar and Why Is He Central? • Eleazar is the newly appointed high priest after Aaron’s death (Numbers 20:26–28). • The high priest alone bears the sacred duty of mediating between God and Israel (Leviticus 16:32). • In this transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua (Numbers 27:18–23), God places Eleazar as the indispensable link for national guidance. How Does the Priest Inquire—Urim and Thummim Explained • God instructed Moses: “Place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment” (Exodus 28:30). • These sacred objects were stored in the high priest’s breastpiece and used only in weighty decisions affecting the whole nation. • “By the judgment of the Urim” emphasizes that Eleazar did not consult his own wisdom; he sought a direct, objective answer from the LORD. • The result was yes/no, go/stop clarity—an unambiguous word Israel could trust (cf. 1 Samuel 23:9–12; 28:6). What Happens After the Inquiry—Authority and Obedience • “At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in.” • Joshua acts only after Eleazar receives God’s verdict. Spiritual discernment precedes military or civic action. • The entire congregation is bound to the decision, underscoring communal submission to revealed will. • Eleazar does not create policy; he transmits God’s directive. Joshua does not command autonomously; he carries out what the priest relays. Broader Biblical Pattern of Priestly Discernment • Leviticus 8:8—Urim and Thummim installed at ordination. • Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65—post-exilic leaders still looked to “a priest with Urim and Thummim” for unresolved issues. • Deuteronomy 33:8—Moses blesses Levi for this unique revelatory trust. • The pattern highlights that throughout Israel’s history, knowing God’s will for the nation depended on a consecrated priestly mediator. Christ Fulfills the Perfect Priesthood • Earthly priests foreshadow the ultimate High Priest: “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God” (Hebrews 4:14). • Christ does not use Urim and Thummim; He embodies perfect revelation (John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1-2). • Believers now “draw near with confidence” because the final Priest mediates God’s will directly to His people (Hebrews 4:16). Summary: In Numbers 27:21 the priest stands as God-appointed mediator. By employing the Urim, Eleazar secures an unmistakable word from the LORD. Joshua and the nation then move in unified obedience, illustrating a timeless principle: God’s people must rely on divinely sanctioned priestly revelation, a role ultimately perfected in Jesus Christ. |
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