17. I will come down--that is, not in a visible manner or by local
descent, but by the tokens of the divine presence and operations.
and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee--"The spirit" means
the gifts and influences of the Spirit
(Nu 27:18;
Joe 2:28;
Joh 7:39;
1Co 14:12),
and by "taking the spirit of Moses, and putting it upon them," is not
to be understood that the qualities of the great leader were to be in
any degree impaired but that the elders would be endowed with a portion
of the same gifts, especially of prophecy
(Nu 11:25)
--that is, an extraordinary penetration in discovering hidden and
settling difficult things.
JFB.
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