Numbers 11:27-29
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The young man's urgent report highlights how readily people tried to control and contain God's Spirit, immediately viewing Eldad and Medad's prophecy as a threat to Moses' authority rather than a divine outpouring. This shows how quickly human systems and leaders can attempt to limit God's work when it doesn't fit their established order.
And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the immediate aftermath of the Israelites' grumbling and God's fiery judgment at Taberah, Moses is divinely instructed to select seventy elders to share the burden of leadership. As these elders are divinely empowered and begin prophesying at the Tabernacle, two men, Eldad and Medad, who were chosen but remained in the camp, also receive the Spirit and begin prophesying there. This event is reported to Moses by a concerned young man who fears Eldad and Medad are acting outside of established authority.
Someone reported Eldad and Medad for prophesying, but Moses had a surprising reaction. What does this tell us about where God's Spirit operates?
The Spirit's Reach
When Eldad and Medad began to prophesy in the camp, a young man rushed to Moses, likely concerned that these two were acting outside of Moses' authority. He felt this might diminish Moses' leadership.
Joshua, Moses' attendant, even urged Moses to stop them. This concern is understandable – it’s natural to want to keep things orderly and within established channels.
Moses' Bigger Vision
But Moses' response was extraordinary: “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!” (Numbers 11:29).
Moses saw something bigger than just control or order. He recognized that the Spirit of God was at work, empowering people beyond the confines of the appointed leaders. He wasn't threatened; he was hopeful that God's Spirit would be poured out on everyone.
Joshua, a faithful servant, wanted to protect Moses' authority. Why did he think stopping Eldad and Medad was the right thing to do?
Protecting Authority vs. Embracing God's Work
Joshua's concern stemmed from a place of loyalty and a desire to maintain order. He saw Eldad and Medad prophesying outside the direct supervision of Moses and the seventy elders, and feared it would undermine Moses' unique position and the established structure.
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Zeal Without Full Understanding
His request, "My lord Moses, forbid them!" (Numbers 11:28), shows a zeal for Moses' honor and for what he perceived as the unity of the community. He was trying to prevent a potential schism or a challenge to Moses' God-given leadership.
However, this zeal, while perhaps well-intentioned, lacked Moses' broader perspective. Moses recognized that God's Spirit was sovereign and could empower individuals in ways that didn't always fit neatly into humanly devised systems. Joshua's desire to 'forbid' something good, simply because it wasn't controlled or initiated by the established leadership, revealed a common human tendency to equate our understanding of order with God's will.
Understand the original words
nabi · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term for a person who acts as a spokesperson for God, receiving and declaring His word. Prophets were essential mediators of God's revelation throughout the history of Israel.
qana · Hebrew Verb/Noun
A strong feeling of zealous devotion or protective possessiveness. In a negative sense, it refers to selfish envy, but in a godly sense, it refers to zeal for God’s honor or the protection of His covenant.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God in the Old Testament, representing His personal, faithful, and redemptive relationship with His people. It is the name He revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
This event occurs during the wilderness wanderings, a time marked by the Israelites' frequent complaints and God's provision, highlighting the tension between human leadership and divine empowerment.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt after God's intervention, beginning their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Complaints and Divine Judgment at Taberah
The Israelites begin to grumble against God and Moses due to hardships in the wilderness, leading to divine judgment by fire.
c. 1446 BC
Lusting for Meat and the Quail Miracle
The Israelites, tired of manna, crave meat, leading to God sending a massive quail offering, followed by a plague as a consequence of their greed.
c. 1446 BC
Appointment of the Seventy Elders
To help Moses bear the immense burden of leading Israel, God chooses seventy elders and bestows His Spirit upon them.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Eldad and Medad Prophesy in the Camp
Two of the chosen elders, Eldad and Medad, prophesy within the camp, even though they did not gather with the others at the Tabernacle.
c. 1446 BC
Joshua's Concern and Moses's Response
Joshua, concerned about Moses's authority, asks him to stop Eldad and Medad, but Moses expresses a desire for all God's people to prophesy.
John, one of Jesus' disciples, shows a similar concern when he reports to Jesus that someone not part of their group was casting out demons in Jesus' name, fearing it was unauthorized.
1 Corinthians 12:11This passage speaks to the sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit, which parallels how the Spirit empowered Eldad and Medad even outside the established leadership structure.
Galatians 5:22-23The fruits of the Spirit, like self-control and gentleness, are displayed in Moses' response, contrasting with Joshua's initial impulse to forbid and highlighting Moses' magnanimity.
Romans 12:6-8This passage discusses using spiritual gifts according to God's grace, reinforcing the idea that gifts are given by God and should be exercised within His purposes, whether through established leaders or others.
pulpitNumbers 11:27: "And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp."
Verse 27. - And there ran a young man. Literally, "the young man," - הַנַּעַר; ὁ νεανἱσκος, Septuagint, - by which some understand the young men of the camp collectively, but this is doubtful in grammar and unsatisfactory in sense. If this book was compiled from previous records, of which there are many apparent traces, we may suppose that the name of this young man was there given, bu…
clarkeNumbers 11:27: "And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp."
Eldad and Medad do prophesy, etc. - Eldad, they said, and Medad there, Irregularly bold, By Moses uncommission'd, dare A separate meeting hold! And still whom none but heaven will own. Men whom the world decry, Men authorized by God alone, Presume to prophesy!
The young man's urgent report highlights how readily people tried to control and contain God's Spirit, immediately viewing Eldad and Medad's prophecy as a threat to Moses' authority rather than a divine outpouring. This shows how quickly human systems and leaders can attempt to limit God's work when it doesn't fit their established order.
In the immediate aftermath of the Israelites' grumbling and God's fiery judgment at Taberah, Moses is divinely instructed to select seventy elders to share the burden of leadership. As these elders are divinely empowered and begin prophesying at the Tabernacle, two men, Eldad and Medad, who were chosen but remained in the camp, also receive the Spirit and begin prophesying there. This event is reported to Moses by a concerned young man who fears Eldad and Medad are acting outside of established authority.
In the immediate aftermath of the Israelites' grumbling and God's fiery judgment at Taberah, Moses is divinely instructed to select seventy elders to share the burden of leadership. As these elders are divinely empowered and begin prophesying at the Tabernacle, two men, Eldad and Medad, who were chosen but remained in the camp, also receive the Spirit and begin prophesying there. This event is reported to Moses by a concerned young man who fears Eldad and Medad are acting outside of established authority.
"And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Wou…" — The young man's urgent report highlights how readily people tried to control and contain God's Spirit, immediately viewing Eldad and Medad's prophecy as a threat to Moses' authority rather than a div…
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Last reviewed October 2026
