The Nugget:
Num 27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Cross reference Bible study for Numbers 27:16 from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
Numbers 27:16
the Lord. Note: Heb. Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar, “Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh.” This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct.
Either the materiality of the soul [the belief of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and others, who believe the soul dies when the body dies, and is a part of the body, not a separate entity that has conscious existence after death (Luk 23:43 note)] is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit.
There is a similar form of expression in Num 16:22 : “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh”; and in Job 12:10, “In whose hand is the soul (nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (ruach) of all flesh of man.” These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though ruach sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited. +Gen 2:7, Jer 38:16, Eze 18:4.
the God. +*Num 16:22, +*Ecc 12:7, +*Zec 12:1 note. +Heb 12:9.
spirits. Heb. ruach, +Num 16:22, Isa 28:6, Zec 4:6.
of all flesh. Jer 32:27, Act 1:24; Act 17:25.
set a man. T#1599, Num 13:8; Num 13:16; Num 20:28, Deut 31:14, Jos 1:2, 1Sa 12:13, 1Ki 5:5, 2Ki 2:9, Jer 3:15; Jer 23:4, 5, Eze 34:11-16; Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24, Hos 13:1, Mat 9:38, Joh 10:11, =Joh 14:16, 17, 18, Act 1:24; *Act 20:28, 1Th 2:4, 2Ti 2:7, 1Pe 5:2, 3, 4.