THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
For what reason did the Almighty God, while affirming that Jesus possessed the Spirit of God, direct Moses to place his hand upon Him (Num. 27:18)? This reflects the situation with the household of Cornelius, who, through grace, had already received baptism. Similarly, our Lord Christ, having been endowed with the full gifts of the Spirit in his humanity even before His incarnation, went on to undergo the baptism of John. He instructed His servant to place hands on His head, and at the same time revealed the Holy Spirit descending upon Him in the form of a dove. The apostles, having already been filled with the Holy Spirit by the Lord, also partook of the grace that descended upon them from above. The same holds true for Joshua.
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Though he had been granted the Spirit's grace, it was essential for the people to be assured of his divine appointment as their leader; thus Moses laid his hands upon him, acting in obedience to God's command. Scripture states, “Thou shalt lay thy hands upon him: and thou shalt set him before Eleazar the priest, and shalt command him before all the host” (Num. 27: 18-21), indicating that Joshua would receive equal honor and, through the decree given to Eleazar, would know his duties. This illustrates that those ordained by bishops share in spiritual grace. Here, the Lord also commanded, “give on him of thy glory.” It is indeed noteworthy that Moses had children, a brother, and a nephew, yet chose none of them to lead; instead, he sought God’s will, appointing the one designated by Him. Following this, Moses established reminders for feasts and sacrifices, alongside the laws governing those who make vows to dedicate gifts to God (Num. 30:3). He first mandated that individuals must fulfill their vowed commitments through action. If a woman is under her father’s authority, her vow requires his approval. Should the father disagree with her vow, she will not be held accountable. However, if after she declares her vow the father either consents or remains silent, then her commitment shall stand. He ruling similarly applies to married individuals, where the vow must receive the husband’s consent.