# placed him before

"told him to stand in front of"

# He laid his hands on him and commanded him to lead

"He" refers to Moses, and "him" refers to Joshua.

# He laid his hands on him

The laying on of hands was a way of setting a person apart to do a special task for God. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])

# to lead

You can make clear the understood information to lead the people. AT: "to lead the people" or "to be the leader of the Israelites" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])

# as Yahweh had commanded him to do

Here "him" refers to Moses.