Joshua Chosen as Moses' Successor

(Book of Numbers 27:12 - 27:23)
Jehovah told Moses, "Go climb one of the Abarim mountains east of the Jordan River and gaze out upon the land I am giving to the children of Israel.  After you have done so, you will join your ancestors, as your brother Aaron did -- for both of you defied my will at the waters in the desert of Zin.  When the people of Israel revolted, you did not convince them to respect my power."  (This occurred at the oasis of Meribah at Kadesh in the desert of Zin.)

Moses replied, "O Jehovah, the god who breathes life into all creatures, pick someone who can take charge of the congregation, lead the flock out to pasture and bring them back, so that the people of Jehovah may not be sheep without a shepherd."

Jehovah responded, “Choose Joshua son of Nun.  He has the proper spirit in him.  Lay your hand upon him.  Have him stand before Eleazar and the entire community, and in their presence give Joshua your endorsement as the next leader of the people.  Delegate some of your authority to him so the people will be used to obeying him.  He may consult Eleazar the priest, who will seek divinations before the altar using the Urim.  On Joshua’s orders the flock of Israel will go out and on his orders it will come in, he with the Israelites, the entire community.”

Moses did as Jehovah commanded him.  He chose Joshua and presented him to Eleazar the priest and the entire congregation.   Moses laid both his hands upon Joshua and formally endorsed him, according to the instructions he received from Jehovah.

Notes
1. It cannot be unexpected that Joshua has been selected as Moses' successor to shepherd the flock that is the people of Israel.  Jehovah seems to be doing Moses a favor by allowing him to see the Promised Land before he dies.  Jehovah still harbors hard feelings from Moses' conduct at the oasis of Meribah and insists upon punishing him for it as he did his brother Aaron.  Moses has been a most faithful servant to Jehovah, but his god has treated him like a stooge or a dog to be kicked whenever he barks out of turn.  Jehovah seems to have no words for his faithful servant, no praise, no expressions of gratitude or affection, no assurances about what may happen to him after he dies or what may happen to his people after he's gone, just a curt "you're gonna die."

2. The Urim and Thimmim, referenced in Exodus in the description of the priest's raiment, were probably amulets of some sort that may have been cast like dice to determine by divination Jehovah's will.  Little is known for certain about them and there are many opinions as to what they were and how they were employed.  Apparently they were to be consulted when Jehovah didn't have the time or inclination to visit the Inner Sanctum personally and sit on the Judgment Seat.  The instructions, though, probably signal that Jehovah will not be speaking directly to Joshua as he had Moses, or at least not as often.

3. Although often the mention of laying on of hands is meant figuratively, here it seems to be literal.  Moses is bid by Jehovah to lay his hand upon Joshua, a symbolic gesture of selection and endorsement.  Moses does, in fact, lay both his hands upon Joshua.  We may deduce from this that Joshua is not only Jehovah’s choice, but Moses’ choice as well.  Moses had been Joshua’s mentor and he probably felt toward him as if he were his son.  (No mention is made of Moses’ sons.)  It is thus established that the civil and military leader of Israel will, for the present, not be an inherited position like the priesthood.