In the history of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, few moments capture the spontaneity and sovereignty of the Holy Spirit like the story of Eldad. His name, which means “God has loved” or “God is a friend,” is perfectly suited to a man who experienced the intimacy of divine inspiration in an unconventional setting.
The Appointment of the Seventy
The account of Eldad occurs in the book of Numbers, during a time of intense murmuring among the Israelites. Moses, overwhelmed by the burden of leading the people, cried out to the Lord for assistance. In response, God commanded Moses to gather seventy elders of the people at the Tabernacle, promising to take of the Spirit that was upon Moses and put it upon them.
While sixty-eight of the chosen elders gathered at the Tabernacle as instructed, two men—Eldad and Medad—remained behind in the camp.
Prophesying in the Camp
Despite their absence from the official gathering at the Tabernacle, the Holy Spirit was not restricted by location. The same divine influence that fell upon the elders at the Tabernacle also rested upon Eldad and Medad.
“But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.” (Numbers 11:26, KJV)
This caused a stir among the people. A young man ran to tell Moses, and even Joshua, Moses’ loyal assistant, felt the need to protect Moses’ unique authority, urging him, “My lord Moses, forbid them” (Numbers 11:28).
The Humility of Moses
The response of Moses to Eldad’s prophesying is one of the most beautiful displays of humility in the Old Testament. Rather than being jealous for his own status, Moses recognized that Eldad’s gift was a blessing from the Lord.
“And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29, KJV)
Eldad stands as a biblical precedent for the truth that God’s Spirit “bloweth where it listeth” (John 3:8). He was “of them that were written”—meaning he was officially chosen—but his experience of God’s power was not confined to a specific ritual or location.
A Shadow of Things to Come
The story of Eldad serves as a prophetic foreshadowing of the New Testament era. Moses’ wish that “all the Lord’s people were prophets” found its ultimate fulfillment on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all flesh.
Eldad reminds the believer that:
- God’s Spirit is Sovereign: He can reach a person in the midst of the common camp just as easily as in the sanctuary.
- Grace is not Exclusive: God often works outside of our expected “channels” to accomplish His purposes.
- True Leadership Rejoices in Others: Like Moses, we should celebrate when God uses others, even if they aren’t “with us” in the way we expected.