Numbers 11:26

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But there remained {H7604} two {H8147} of the men {H582} in the camp {H4264}, the name {H8034} of the one {H259} was Eldad {H419}, and the name {H8034} of the other {H8145} Medad {H4312}: and the spirit {H7307} rested {H5117} upon them; and they were of them that were written {H3789}, but went not out {H3318} unto the tabernacle {H168}: and they prophesied {H5012} in the camp {H4264}.

Complete Jewish Bible

There were two men who stayed in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad, and the Spirit came to rest on them. They were among those listed to go out to the tent, but they hadn't done so, and they prophesied in the camp.

Berean Standard Bible

Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp.

American Standard Version

But there remained two 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 had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 11:26 recounts an extraordinary and pivotal moment during Israel's wilderness journey when the Spirit of God sovereignly rested upon two elders, Eldad and Medad, who remained in the camp rather than joining the formal assembly of seventy leaders at the Tabernacle. This unexpected event profoundly underscores God's unconstrained sovereignty and the unconfined nature of His divine empowerment, demonstrating that His Spirit is not limited by human-established structures, formal protocols, or specific physical locations, but extends according to His divine will, enabling individuals to prophesy and declare His word wherever they are.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 11:26 is strategically placed within a narrative arc detailing Israel's persistent grumbling for meat and Moses' overwhelming burden of leadership. Immediately preceding this verse, [Numbers 11:16-17](/numbers/11-16 "Numbers 11:16-17 - God Commands Moses to Gather Seventy Elders") records God's compassionate instruction to Moses: to gather seventy elders at the Tabernacle, promising to take some of the Spirit that was upon Moses and place it upon them, thereby enabling them to share the immense weight of leadership. [Numbers 11:25](/numbers/11-25 "Numbers 11:25 - The Spirit Rests on the Seventy Elders at the Tabernacle") then describes the direct fulfillment of this promise, as the Spirit indeed rested upon the seventy, and they prophesied. Numbers 11:26 serves as a surprising and significant addendum, revealing that two of the designated elders, Eldad and Medad, received the Spirit and prophesied despite their absence from the formal gathering at the Tabernacle. This unexpected detail prompts Joshua's concern and elicits Moses' magnanimous and visionary response in [Numbers 11:28-29](/numbers/11-28 "Numbers 11:28-29 - Joshua's Concern and Moses' Noble Desire"), where Moses expresses a profound desire for all of God's people to be prophets.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this event is the wilderness journey of the Israelites, a period defined by divine guidance through Moses, the central role of the [Tabernacle](/exodus/25 "Exodus 25 - Instructions for the Tabernacle") as the dwelling place of God's presence and the epicenter of Israelite worship, and the nascent formation of a national identity under Yahweh. In ancient Israel, prophecy was a recognized, though often unpredictable, manifestation of divine communication, typically associated with specific individuals or groups, often operating within established religious frameworks. The "elders" were esteemed community leaders, chosen for their wisdom and experience, whose authority was often linked to their proximity to sacred spaces or formal appointments. The conventional expectation would naturally be that divine anointing for leadership and prophetic utterance would occur exclusively within the established, sacred space of the Tabernacle. Eldad and Medad's experience dramatically challenges this conventional expectation, powerfully underscoring that God's Spirit operates beyond human-imposed boundaries and formal religious structures, demonstrating a divine spontaneity that transcends human order and protocol.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several foundational themes within the book of Numbers and the broader Pentateuch. It preeminently highlights the **Sovereignty of God**, demonstrating that His Spirit is not confined by human location, ritual, or protocol, but moves and empowers precisely as He wills. It profoundly underscores the **Nature of Prophetic Empowerment**, revealing that the ability to speak God's word comes directly from His Spirit, not from human appointment, physical proximity to sacred spaces, or adherence to formal assemblies. The inclusion of Eldad and Medad, who were "of them that were written" but "went not out unto the tabernacle," also speaks to the **Inclusivity of God's Work** and His capacity to use unexpected channels and individuals. This incident serves as a significant **Foreshadowing of a Broader Outpouring of the Spirit**, anticipating a future era when God's Spirit would not be confined to a select few, but would be poured out more generally upon His people, a vision articulated later in [Joel 2:28-29](/joel/2-28 "Joel 2:28-29 - Prophecy of the Spirit's Outpouring") and ultimately fulfilled at Pentecost in [Acts 2](/acts/2 "Acts 2 - The Day of Pentecost - The Spirit Poured Out").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spirit (Hebrew, _rûwach'_):** This term (H7307), frequently appearing in the Old Testament, refers to the divine breath, wind, or life force of God. Here, it specifically denotes the Holy Spirit, the active, empowering presence of God. When the "spirit rested upon them," it signifies a direct, divine impartation of power and authority, enabling them to perform a task far beyond their natural capabilities. It is the same Spirit that empowered Moses and subsequently the seventy elders, indicating a shared, divine source of their prophetic ability and highlighting the unity of God's work.
* **Rested (Hebrew, _nûwach'_):** The verb "rested" (H5117) suggests a settled, abiding presence, not merely a fleeting touch or a temporary visitation. It implies a sustained anointing that enabled continuous prophetic activity. The fact that it "rested upon them" even though they were "in the camp," away from the Tabernacle, profoundly emphasizes God's sovereign choice and the Spirit's unconstrained movement, independent of human-designated sacred spaces or formal assemblies. This choice underscores God's freedom from human limitations.
* **Prophesied (Hebrew, _nâbâ'_):** This verb (H5012) comes from a primitive root meaning "to speak under divine inspiration." While it can encompass foretelling the future, its primary sense in this context is to speak forth God's message, to declare His will, character, or purposes. It was a public and audible manifestation of the Spirit's presence, validating their anointing and demonstrating unequivocally that God was indeed speaking through them, even in an unconventional setting. Their prophecy was a direct result of the Spirit's indwelling.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But there remained two [of the] men in the camp, the name of the one [was] Eldad, and the name of the other Medad:"** This clause immediately introduces the unexpected element of the narrative, highlighting a deviation from the expected protocol. These two individuals, Eldad and Medad, are specifically named, distinguishing them from the anonymous seventy. Their crucial location "in the camp" stands in stark contrast to the formal gathering at the Tabernacle where the other elders received the Spirit, immediately signaling God's sovereign freedom to act outside human expectations.
* **"and the spirit rested upon them;"** This is the central divine action and the miraculous core of the verse. Despite their physical absence from the Tabernacle, the very same Spirit that empowered Moses and the other elders supernaturally "rested" upon Eldad and Medad. This demonstrates unequivocally that God's power and anointing are not bound by human expectations, physical location, or ritualistic adherence, but are distributed entirely according to His divine will and sovereign purpose.
* **"and they [were] of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle:"** This clarifies Eldad and Medad's legitimate status: they were indeed among the seventy chosen men, their names "written" or officially designated for this task. However, for reasons unspecified in the text (perhaps illness, humility, or simply divine design), they did not join the others at the Tabernacle. This juxtaposition underscores the miraculous nature of the event – their physical absence from the formal assembly did not hinder God's spiritual presence and empowerment.
* **"and they prophesied in the camp."** The direct, immediate, and public result of the Spirit resting upon them was their prophetic utterance. This act of "prophesying" served as undeniable evidence of the Spirit's anointing, validating their divine commission even outside the formal assembly. It was a clear, audible manifestation of God's word being spoken through unexpected vessels in an unexpected place, confirming the authenticity of their experience.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 11:26 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message and underscore God's independent action. The most prominent is **Juxtaposition**, specifically the stark contrast between the formal, expected setting of the Tabernacle where the seventy elders gathered, and the informal, unexpected location "in the camp" where Eldad and Medad received the Spirit and prophesied. This contrast immediately draws the reader's attention to God's freedom from human limitations and established protocols. There is also a subtle **Irony** in the fact that those who did not adhere to the formal gathering protocol still received the divine anointing, challenging the human tendency to confine God's work to established structures and demonstrating His ability to work through unconventional means. Furthermore, the event serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at a future era when the Spirit would be poured out more broadly, not just on a select few leaders in a sacred space, but on all of God's people, regardless of their position or location. This narrative choice powerfully emphasizes **Divine Sovereignty**, portraying God as one whose power and presence cannot be contained, predicted, or limited by human design or expectation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 11:26 profoundly illustrates God's unconstrained sovereignty and the expansive, uncontainable nature of His Spirit. It teaches us a vital truth: divine empowerment is not limited by human structures, sacred spaces, or formal protocols. While the Tabernacle was indeed the divinely designated place of encounter with God and the center of Israelite worship, this incident demonstrates that God's Spirit transcends such boundaries, choosing to anoint and empower individuals wherever and however He wills. This challenges any notion that God's work can be confined exclusively to specific religious institutions or that His gifts are solely for those in formal leadership positions. It underscores that the Spirit's distribution is entirely at God's discretion, highlighting His desire to equip His people for His purposes, often in surprising ways, and affirming that His presence and power are not geographically or ritually bound. This narrative serves as a powerful biblical precedent for the Spirit's spontaneous and widespread activity.

* [Joel 2:28-29](/joel/2-28 "Joel 2:28-29 - Prophecy of the Spirit's Outpouring on All Flesh")
* [Acts 2:17-18](/acts/2-17-18 "Acts 2:17-18 - Peter Quotes Joel's Prophecy on Pentecost")
* [1 Corinthians 12:7-11](/1_corinthians/12-7-11 "1 Corinthians 12:7-11 - The Diverse Manifestations of the Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Eldad and Medad offers timeless lessons for believers today, primarily challenging our often-unconscious tendency to limit God's activity to familiar patterns, established institutions, or predictable methods. It calls us to cultivate an open-mindedness and a profound readiness to recognize God's Spirit at work in unconventional places and through unexpected people. We are powerfully reminded that authentic spiritual empowerment comes directly from God, not from human credentials, ecclesiastical titles, or physical proximity to religious centers. This should encourage us to value and affirm the diverse manifestations of the Spirit's gifts within the broader body of Christ, even when they emerge outside traditional structures or from individuals we might not initially expect to be used by God. It also inspires us to pray fervently for a widespread outpouring of God's Spirit, echoing Moses' noble desire that "all the LORD'S people were prophets," fostering a vibrant community where every believer is empowered to declare God's truth, serve His purposes, and live out His mission in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the story of Eldad and Medad challenge our assumptions about where and how God's Spirit works, particularly within our own faith communities?**
* **In what ways might we be inadvertently limiting God's Spirit by adhering too rigidly to human structures, traditions, or expectations within our churches or ministries?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the nature of prophetic ministry and its accessibility to all of God's people, not just a select few?**
* **How can we better recognize, affirm, and make space for the Spirit's work in unexpected places or through individuals who are not in formal leadership roles?**

### FAQ

**Why did Eldad and Medad not go out to the tabernacle?**

Answer: The text of Numbers 11:26 does not explicitly state why Eldad and Medad remained in the camp and "went not out unto the tabernacle." Various interpretations have been offered by commentators, including illness, a sense of humility, or perhaps even a deliberate divine design to demonstrate God's unconstrained power and sovereignty. What is unequivocally clear is that their physical absence from the formal gathering did not hinder the Spirit of God from resting upon them and empowering them to prophesy. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over human circumstances, protocols, and expectations, demonstrating that His presence is not bound by physical location.

**What does "prophesied" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Numbers 11:26, "prophesied" (Hebrew: _nâbâ'_) refers to speaking under divine inspiration, declaring God's message, will, or character. While prophecy can sometimes involve foretelling the future, its primary meaning here is "forth-telling" – speaking forth God's truth, often in exhortation, instruction, or praise. It was a public and audible manifestation of the Spirit's presence, validating their anointing and demonstrating that God was indeed speaking through them. This act of prophesying was a clear sign of their divine empowerment, similar to what occurred with the other seventy elders at the Tabernacle, as described in [Numbers 11:25](/numbers/11-25 "Numbers 11:25 - The Spirit Rests on the Seventy Elders").

**How does Moses' reaction to Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:29) relate to this verse?**

Answer: Moses' reaction in [Numbers 11:29](/numbers/11-29 "Numbers 11:29 - Moses' Desire for All to Prophesy") is a direct and profound response to the events of Numbers 11:26. When Joshua, concerned about the unconventional prophecy, urged Moses to forbid Eldad and Medad, Moses replied with a noble and generous statement: "Would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" This profound declaration reveals Moses' deep desire for a widespread outpouring of God's Spirit upon all of His people, rather than confining it to a select few or specific locations. It underscores the divine intention for a broad distribution of spiritual empowerment, anticipating the New Covenant era when the Spirit would be poured out on all believers, as powerfully prophesied in [Joel 2:28-29](/joel/2-28 "Joel 2:28-29 - Prophecy of the Spirit's Outpouring").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The unexpected anointing of Eldad and Medad in Numbers 11:26, where God's Spirit transcends human boundaries and formal structures, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate and comprehensive outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant, centered entirely on Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament saw the Spirit's anointing primarily on select individuals for specific tasks (prophets, priests, kings), Jesus Himself is the one upon whom the Spirit rests without measure, as affirmed in [John 3:34](/john/3-34 "John 3:34 - Jesus Receives the Spirit Without Measure"). He is the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King, uniquely empowered by the Spirit to accomplish God's redemptive plan for humanity. Through His sacrificial death, glorious resurrection, and triumphant ascension, Christ inaugurated a new era where the Spirit is poured out not just on a few, but on all who believe in Him. The prophecy of Joel, vividly quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost in [Acts 2:17-18](/acts/2-17-18 "Acts 2:17-18 - Peter Quotes Joel on Pentecost"), declares that God would pour out His Spirit on "all flesh," enabling sons and daughters, young and old, male and female, to prophesy and declare God's mighty works. This fulfillment in [Acts 2](/acts/2 "Acts 2 - The Day of Pentecost") powerfully echoes the spirit of Numbers 11:26, demonstrating that God's Spirit is no longer confined to a tabernacle, a temple, or a select group of leaders, but indwells and empowers every believer to bear witness to Christ and participate in His ongoing mission, making the entire church a Spirit-filled, prophetic community.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 36:5

And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I [am] shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:

1 Samuel 20:26

Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely he [is] not clean.

Exodus 3:11

¶ And Moses said unto God, Who [am] I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Exodus 4:13

And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand [of him whom] thou wilt send.

Exodus 4:14

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, [Is] not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

1 Samuel 10:22

Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

Jeremiah 1:6

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child.