One of the seventy elders who prophesied in the camp
The exodusProphetLeaderc. 1400 B.C.
Medad was one of the seventy elders chosen to receive God's Spirit along with Moses. He and Eldad became known because they prophesied inside the camp instead of at the tabernacle, which caused controversy. Moses defended them and expressed a wish that all the Lord's people were prophets.
Key events
Chosen among the seventy elders
Medad was chosen as one of the seventy elders in Israel to share the burden of the people with Moses, after God commanded Moses to gather them.
16The LORD said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy of Israel's elders, men you know to be elders and officers of the people. Bring them to the tent of meeting and have them stand there with you.
17I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you, so that you will not carry it alone.
25Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they did not do so again.
26Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad, the other Medad. The Spirit rested on them as well. They were among those registered, yet they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp.
26Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad, the other Medad. The Spirit rested on them as well. They were among those registered, yet they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp.
Moses answered Joshua with the famous statement: "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" This showed Moses' humility and desire for the outpouring of the Spirit.