Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that even though Eldad and Medad weren't at the Tabernacle, the Spirit of God still rested on them, showing His power isn't confined to specific locations or rituals. Their prophesying in the camp, apart from the gathering, demonstrates that God's Spirit can work directly and powerfully in ordinary places, not just in prescribed settings.
Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses has been tasked by God to gather seventy elders to share the burden of leading Israel, and when the Spirit descended upon them at the tabernacle, many were prophesying. However, two men, Eldad and Medad, were chosen but didn't go to the tabernacle for reasons unknown, yet the Spirit still rested upon them and they prophesied in the camp. This unusual event causes Joshua to question Moses, who then responds with a magnanimous spirit, wishing all of God's people could be prophets.
What happens when God's Spirit moves beyond official channels? Moses was ready to shut it down, but God had other plans.
The Spirit of God isn't confined by our expectations or our organizational charts. Eldad and Medad were supposed to be at the Tabernacle to receive the Spirit, but they weren't. Yet, the Spirit rested on them anyway, right there in the camp.
This highlights God's sovereign power to bestow His gifts where and how He chooses. He wasn't limited by their absence from the designated meeting place. It's a beautiful reminder that God's grace can find people even when they're not in the
They were chosen, registered, but absent. Does that disqualify them? Not in God's eyes.
Eldad and Medad were among those 'written' – meaning they were officially selected and registered as part of the seventy elders. However, for reasons unstated (perhaps modesty, ceremonial uncleanness, or simply being detained), they weren't present at the Tabernacle when the Spirit was poured out on the others.
Despite their physical absence from the appointed place, God's Spirit still came upon them. This shows that God's grace and gifting aren't solely dependent on our adherence to protocol or our visible participation in formal religious settings. Their calling and gifting were valid, even from outside the 'official' gathering.
This also sets up the beautiful response from Moses when Joshua wanted to stop them: 'Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them all!' (Num 11:29). Moses recognized God's broader purpose beyond the immediate situation.
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Understand the original words
ruach · Hebrew Noun
The Third Person of the Trinity, the active agent of God in creation, empowerment, and sanctification. In the OT, He frequently came upon individuals to enable them for specific divine tasks, such as leadership or prophecy.
naba · Hebrew Verb
To speak under divine inspiration. It involves communicating a message from God to His people, often revealing His will, warnings, or future purposes.
This event occurs during the challenging wilderness journey, highlighting the people's ongoing discontent and God's generous, surprising provision of spiritual leadership, even to those outside the established gathering.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of slavery, are miraculously led out of Egypt by God through Moses.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
Following their exodus, the Israelites journey through the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. This period is marked by frequent complaints and testing of God's provision and leadership.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Quail Incident and Spirit Distribution
The people grumble for meat, leading God to send quail and to share His Spirit with seventy elders. Two elders, Eldad and Medad, prophesy in the camp despite not being at the Tabernacle.
This passage shows a similar outpouring of the Spirit on individuals who were not initially designated for leadership, causing them to prophesy and be transformed.
John 3:8Jesus' words here about the Spirit being like the wind, that blows where it wills and cannot be controlled, echo the unpredictable and sovereign nature of the Spirit's work seen with Eldad and Medad.
Acts 10:44-46This New Testament account demonstrates the Spirit falling on Gentiles who had not followed all Jewish customs, leading them to speak in tongues, mirroring the surprise and breadth of the Spirit's activity beyond expected boundaries.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11Paul's explanation of spiritual gifts highlights the diversity of these gifts and the fact that they are distributed by the one Spirit as He wills, underscoring that Eldad and Medad's prophecy was a valid manifestation of God's Spirit, regardless of their presence at the Tent.
jfbNumbers 11:26: "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."
26-29. But there remained two of the men in the camp—They did not repair with the rest to the tabernacle, either from modesty in shrinking from the assumption of a public office, or being prevented by some ceremonial defilemen…
pulpitNumbers 11:26: "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."
Verse 26. - There remained two of the men in the camp. No reason is here given why they did not accompany the rest to the tabernacle; but as they did not thereby forfeit the gift designed for them, it is certain that some nece…
The verse highlights that even though Eldad and Medad weren't at the Tabernacle, the Spirit of God still rested on them, showing His power isn't confined to specific locations or rituals. Their prophesying in the camp, apart from the gathering, demonstrates that God's Spirit can work directly and powerfully in ordinary places, not just in prescribed settings.
Moses has been tasked by God to gather seventy elders to share the burden of leading Israel, and when the Spirit descended upon them at the tabernacle, many were prophesying. However, two men, Eldad and Medad, were chosen but didn't go to the tabernacle for reasons unknown, yet the Spirit still rested upon them and they prophesied in the camp. This unusual event causes Joshua to question Moses, who then responds with a magnanimous spirit, wishing all of God's people could be prophets.
Moses has been tasked by God to gather seventy elders to share the burden of leading Israel, and when the Spirit descended upon them at the tabernacle, many were prophesying. However, two men, Eldad and Medad, were chosen but didn't go to the tabernacle for reasons unknown, yet the Spirit still rested upon them and they prophesied in the camp. This unusual event causes Joshua to question Moses, who then responds with a magnanimous spirit, wishing all of God's people could be prophets.
"Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp." — The verse highlights that even though Eldad and Medad weren't at the Tabernacle, the Spirit of God still rested on them, showing His power isn't confined to specific locations or rituals. Their proph…
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Last reviewed October 2026