Medad מֵידָד
Eldad's companion who prophesied in the Israelite camp.
Biography
Medad was an Israelite who, along with Eldad, received the Spirit and prophesied in the camp during the time of Moses. When Moses appointed seventy elders to assist him in leading the people, the Lord took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. However, Eldad and Medad, who were listed among the elders but had not gone to the tent of meeting, began prophesying in the camp. When Joshua urged Moses to stop them, Moses responded, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" (Num.11.26-29). This event demonstrates that the Spirit of God can work through individuals unexpectedly and that God's power is not limited to human structures or expectations.
In Scripture
1 biblical bookNumbers 2 verses
- Numbers 11:26
"But two men remained in the camp. The name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad; and the Spirit rested on them. They were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp."
- Numbers 11:27
"A young man ran, and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מֵידָד | H4312 |
Medad
elders who had assembled at the door of the tabernacle to hear God's message. Joshua suggested that Eldad and Medad be stopped, but Moses interceded on their behalf, saying, "Would that all Yahweh's people were prophets!" (Nu 11:26-29). The subject-matter of their prophecy has been variously supplied by tradition. Compare the Palestine Targums at the place, the apocalyptic Book of Eldad and Modad, and Ba`al ha-Turim (ad loc.).
Ella Davis Isaacs
me'-dan (medhan, "strife"): One of the sons of Abraham by Keturah (Ge 25:2; 1Ch 1:32). The tribe and its place remain unidentified, and the conjec