Why were Eleazar and Joshua chosen to allocate land in Numbers 34:17? Scripture Focus “‘These are the men who shall allocate the land to you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.’” (Numbers 34:17) Historical Setting at a Glance • Israel is camped on the plains of Moab, just east of the Jordan. • Moses is about to die (Numbers 27:12-13). • A clear process for entering and settling Canaan must be put in place before Moses’ departure. The Two Appointees • Eleazar – Aaron’s son, the high priest (Numbers 20:26-28) • Joshua – Moses’ successor, commander, and faithful spy (Numbers 27:18; 14:30) Why These Two? 1. Divine Appointment • Both men were chosen directly by God, not by popular vote. • Joshua: “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.” (Numbers 27:18) • Eleazar: “Aaron shall be gathered to his people…Eleazar his son shall be clothed with it.” (Numbers 20:24-28) 2. Balanced Leadership—Priest and General • Eleazar represents spiritual authority; Joshua represents civil and military authority. • Together they picture the union of worship and warfare, holiness and practical leadership, ensuring every aspect of Israel’s life is covered. 3. Impartiality and Integrity • Levites (Eleazar’s tribe) receive no land inheritance (Numbers 18:20), eliminating personal conflict of interest. • Joshua’s personal allotment is given last, after all tribes are settled (Joshua 19:49-50), showing his impartial heart. 4. Proven Faithfulness • Joshua and Eleazar both stood firm in earlier crises—Joshua as one of the two faithful spies (Numbers 14:6-9), Eleazar ministering faithfully after Nadab and Abihu’s failure (Leviticus 10:6-7). • Their history of obedience builds national trust during a sensitive process. 5. Continuity From Moses and Aaron • Moses and Aaron led Israel out; Joshua and Eleazar lead Israel in. • Numbers 34:17 intentionally pairs the successors, showing God’s orderly transition rather than leadership vacuum. 6. Use of Sacred Means • Eleazar carried the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30), tools for discerning God’s will, making the lot-casting process explicitly divine (Numbers 26:55). How the Process Unfolded • Land was assigned by lot “at Shiloh before the LORD, in the presence of Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes” (Joshua 19:51). • Eleven tribal leaders assisted (Numbers 34:18-29), but Eleazar and Joshua supervised every decision. Lessons for Today’s Believer • God values both spiritual and practical leadership working together. • Faithful service over time prepares believers for greater responsibility (Luke 16:10). • Impartiality honors God’s holiness—leaders avoid personal gain to maintain credibility. Summary Eleazar and Joshua were chosen because God ordained them, they embodied complementary leadership roles, they were impartial and proven, they ensured continuity with past leadership, and they could employ sacred means to guarantee a God-directed allocation. Their joint appointment preserved unity and upheld the holiness of the inheritance process for Israel. |
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