1. And MEDAD, Two of the seventy elders appointed to aid Moses in governing the people. The spirit of prophecy coming upon them, they prophesied in the camp at a distance from Moses. Joshua censured them for this as an irregularity, but they were nobly vindicated by Moses, Nu 11:24-29.

whom God has loved, one of the seventy elders whom Moses appointed (Nu 11:26-27) to administer justice among the people. He, with Medad, prophesied in the camp instead of going with the rest to the tabernacle, as Moses had commanded. This incident was announced to Moses by Joshua, who thought their conduct in this respect irregular. Moses replied, "Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets" (Nu 11:24-30; comp. Mr 9:38; Lu 9:49).

ELDAD ("loved of God") and Medad. Two of the 70 elders to whom the Spirit was imparted, in order to share. Moses' burden of responsibility. Though "they were of them that were written" in Moses' list (implying that the 70 were permanently appointed) they did not go with the rest to the tabernacle, but prophesied in the camp (Nu 11:26). Forster however trans. "they were among the inscriptions," i.e. occupied in directing the records of the exode at Sarbut el Khadem at the entrance to Wady Maghara and Mokatteb. The context favors KJV When "the (so Hebrew for a) young man" reported it at the tabernacle, and Joshua begged Moses to forbid them, he refused saying, "enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets," etc. So, Jesus' disciples were jealous for His honor, but were reproved by Moses' Antitype (Mr 9:38-39), For "and did not cease," Nu 11:25, trans. wilo' yasphu "and did not add," as Septuagint, i.e. they did not continue prophesying.

Not that the Spirit departed from them, but having given this palpable sample to the nation of their Spirit-attested mission, they for the time ceased to give further spiritual demonstrations, their office being executive administration not prophecy. Not foretelling the future is meant, but ecstatic impulse by the Spirit, giving them wisdom and utterance; as the disciples on Pentecost received the gift of tongues and of prophecy, i.e. the power of inspired speaking. They probably declared God's will in extempore hymns of praise; so Saul, 1Sa 10:11. The Jews' tradition was that all prophetic inspiration emanated from Moses originally. In the sense only that Moses' Pentateuch is the basis of all subsequent prophecy, the psalms and the prophets, it is true. It was "of the Spirit that was upon Moses" that "God gave unto the 70 elders." The diffusion of the spirit of prophecy, no longer limited to Moses, and its separation from the tabernacle service, led to the establishment of the "schools of the prophets."

Moses, like the true "servant" of God (Hebrew 3), not seeking his own but God's glory, and the extension of His kingdom, rejoiced at what provoked the jealousy of his followers. The 70 elders appointed by Jethro's advice at Sinai (Exodus 18) to help Moses in judging are distinct from the 70 here endowed with the Spirit to help hint as his executive court, to govern the rebellious people, and establish his authority, shaken by the people's murmurings against Jehovah and himself because of the want of flesh. The number 70 symbolically represented the elect nation, the sacred number for perfection, 7, being raised to tens, the world number. Accordingly, it was our Lord's number for the disciples sent two by two before His face (Lu 10:1).

One of the seventy elders appointed to assist Moses in the government of the people. On one occasion he and another named Medad were not present with Moses and the rest of the elders at the door of the Tabernacle to hear God's message and receive His spirit. But the spirit of the Lord came upon them where they were, and they prophesied in the camp. Joshua regarded this as an irregularity, but Moses declined to interfere (Nu 11:26-29).

El'dad

One of the seventy elders, who, with Medad, received the spirit of prophecy. Nu 11:26-27.

El'dad

(favored of God) and Me'dad (love), two of the seventy elders to whom was communicated the prophetic power of Moses.

Nu 11:16,26

(B.C. 1490.) Although their names were upon the last which Moses had drawn up,

Nu 11:26

they did not repair with the rest of their brethren to the tabernacle, but continued to prophesy in the camp. moses, being requested by Joshua to forbid this, refused to do so, and expressed a wish that the gift of prophecy might be diffused throughout the people.

ELDAD and Medad were appointed by Moses among the seventy elders of Israel who were to assist in the government. Though not present in the general assembly, they were, notwithstanding, filled with the Spirit of God, equally with those who were in that assembly, and they began to prophesy in the camp. Joshua would have had Moses forbid them, but Moses replied, "Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that God would pour forth his Spirit upon them!" Nu 11:24-29.