Numbers 11:24

¶ And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.

And Moses {H4872} went out {H3318}, and told {H1696} the people {H5971} the words {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, and gathered {H622} the seventy {H7657} men {H376} of the elders {H2205} of the people {H5971}, and set {H5975} them round about {H5439} the tabernacle {H168}.

Moshe went out and told the people what ADONAI had said. Then he collected seventy of the leaders of the people and placed them all around the tent.

So Moses went out and relayed to the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered seventy of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tent.

And Moses went out, and told the people the words of Jehovah: and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tent.

Commentary

Numbers 11:24 details Moses' obedient response to God's command, initiating a significant restructuring of leadership among the Israelites in the wilderness. This verse sets the stage for the divine empowerment of seventy elders, who would share the immense burden of leading the complaining multitude.

Context

This passage is set against the backdrop of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, where they frequently grumbled against God and Moses. Immediately preceding this verse, the people had expressed intense craving for meat, complaining bitterly about the manna and recalling the foods of Egypt (Numbers 11:4-6). Overwhelmed by the burden of leading such a discontented nation, Moses cried out to the Lord, expressing his profound distress and feeling unable to bear the responsibility alone (Numbers 11:14-15). In response, God instructed Moses to gather seventy respected elders of Israel, promising to take some of the Spirit that was upon Moses and put it upon them, enabling them to assist him in leadership (Numbers 11:17). Verse 24 shows Moses diligently carrying out this divine directive.

Key Themes

  • Delegation of Authority: This verse highlights the practical need for leadership delegation, even for a divinely appointed leader like Moses. It demonstrates God's wisdom in establishing a system of shared responsibility to manage the complexities of a large community.
  • Preparation for Divine Empowerment: By gathering the elders "round about the tabernacle," Moses was preparing them for the promised impartation of the Holy Spirit, which occurs in the subsequent verse (Numbers 11:25). This act underscores that effective spiritual leadership is not merely human effort but requires divine enablement.
  • Centrality of God's Presence: The instruction to gather the elders "round about the tabernacle" emphasizes the centrality of God's dwelling place and His presence in the governance and spiritual life of Israel. All legitimate authority and guidance within the community were to be rooted in proximity to and reliance upon the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "seventy men of the elders" carries significant weight. The number seventy frequently appears in biblical contexts to denote representative or foundational groups, such as the seventy nations listed in Genesis 10 or the seventy members of Jacob's household who journeyed to Egypt. Here, it signifies a foundational body of leadership for the nascent Israelite nation, chosen for their wisdom, experience, and suitability to bear the burden of the people alongside Moses.

Practical Application

Numbers 11:24 offers enduring lessons for leadership in any era. It teaches us the importance of recognizing our limitations and the wisdom in delegating responsibilities, even when we feel uniquely called. Furthermore, it powerfully illustrates that true spiritual leadership is not self-derived but is empowered by God's Spirit. For the church and believers today, this passage encourages shared ministry, recognizing that God equips various individuals with gifts and callings to serve collectively, always keeping God's presence and purpose at the center of their efforts.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 11:16

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

  • Numbers 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.
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