He first illustrates the freedom of the Spirit,
and His independence of human agency, by the gift of prophecy to the
seventy elders, including Eldad and Medad: he then refers to the
gift of the spirit of wisdom to Joshua by the laying on of Moses’
hands Deut. xxxiv. 9., and adds, “Thou seest everywhere the
figure (τύπον) in the Old Testament, and
in the New the same. In Moses’ time the Spirit was given by
laying on of hands (χειροθεσίᾳ
), and Peter gives the Spirit by laying on of hands Acts viii. 17.: and upon thee also, who art to be
baptized, the grace is about to come; but the manner
(τὸ πῶς) I
tell thee not, for I do not forestall the time.”