Numbers 11:29: Edit history

Context

Chapter 11 of Numbers opens with the Israelites in the wilderness, weary of manna, complaining and demanding meat. When Moses protests that he cannot bear the burden of the people alone, God has him gather seventy elders and gives them a share of the spirit that was upon Moses (vv. 16–17, 24–25). The elders then prophesied around the tabernacle.

Eldad and Medad were among those listed, but they did not go out to the tabernacle and remained in the camp. The spirit rested on them as well, and when they prophesied in the camp, a young man ran and told Moses. Joshua, Moses' servant, pleaded, "My lord Moses, forbid them" (v. 28), and Moses answered with this verse: "Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" The words "Enviest thou" refer to Joshua's zeal, that is, his jealousy, on behalf of Moses' authority.

Interpretation

• Moses' humility: Many commentators highlight Moses' unwillingness to keep the gift of the spirit to himself, in contrast to Joshua, who feared that his leader's authority might be undermined. Some read the verse alongside Numbers 12:3, which follows shortly after and describes Moses as "very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth."
• Promise and fulfillment: Christian interpretive tradition holds that Moses' wish passed into the promise of Joel 2:28–29, in which God pledges to pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, and was fulfilled at Pentecost, when Peter quoted Joel's promise (Acts 2:16–21). In pneumatology, the verse is cited in support of the teaching that the Holy Spirit is given not to a few leaders but to all believers.
• Jewish tradition: Rabbinic literature preserves a tradition that Eldad and Medad prophesied the death of Moses and the succession of Joshua. A book bearing their names once existed but is reported to be no longer extant.

Debates and Issues

• The nature of "prophecy": Verse 25 records that the elders prophesied but did not do so again. Some scholars regard this prophesying as closer to a state of being seized by the spirit and exalting God than to foretelling future events. Some ancient translations are reported to render the phrase "did not do so again" as "did not cease."
• Connection to present-day gifts: Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement read this verse together with 1 Corinthians 14:5, where Paul expresses the wish that all believers would prophesy. On this basis they hold that the gift of prophecy remains open to all believers today. By contrast, Reformed interpreters who hold to cessationism agree that Moses' wish was fulfilled at Pentecost but are cautious about using the verse as grounds for the continuation of prophecy as new revelation today.
• Connection to the priesthood of all believers: Protestant preaching sometimes links this verse to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, the teaching that every believer may approach God without a mediator. Others, however, maintain that the two should be distinguished, since the text concerns prophecy rather than priesthood.

In Korean Churches

In Korean Protestant churches, the verse is often cited in sermons for Pentecost Sunday and in sermons emphasizing lay ministry. Such sermons typically stress that the Holy Spirit is given not only to pastors but to all members of the church.

Related Passages

• Numbers 11:24–28 — The spirit rests on the seventy elders, and Eldad and Medad prophesy
• Joel 2:28–29 — The promise to pour out the Spirit upon all flesh
• Acts 2:16–21 — Peter's Pentecost sermon quoting Joel's promise
• 1 Corinthians 14:1–5 — Paul's exhortation expressing the wish that all believers would prophesy
• Mark 9:38–40 — Jesus tells a disciple not to forbid someone who was not one of their company