Medad מֵידָד
Eldad's companion who prophesied in the Israelite camp.
Who is Medad in the Bible?
Medad was an Israelite elder who, along with Eldad, prophesied in the camp during Moses' leadership, as recorded in Numbers 11:26-27. Though listed among the seventy elders appointed to help Moses, Medad and Eldad did not go to the tent of meeting but instead received God's Spirit and began prophesying in the camp itself. When Joshua complained about their unauthorized prophesying, Moses defended them, declaring, "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!" (Numbers 11:29). This account demonstrates that God's Spirit operates beyond human institutional structures and that divine gifting cannot be confined by human expectations or authority.
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
"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."
- Numbers 11:27
"A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מֵידָד |
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