Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 27:16

"Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation," — Numbers 27:16 (ASV)

Let the Lord ... — We have a remarkable instance here of the true greatness of Moses, as a type of Him whose words were, Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children (Luke 23:28). Instead of indulging in excessive grief, or in unavailing remorse, the mind of Moses was intently fixed upon the welfare of those for whose sake he had been willing that his own name should be blotted out of the Book (Exodus 32:32); and instead of appointing one of his own family, or the man of his own choice, as his successor, he commits the matter to God, and prays that He will appoint one who would be a true shepherd to the flock.