Eldad

From Bible Encyclopedia

el´dad (אלדּד, 'eldādh, “God has loved” or "whom God has loved"):

One of the 70 elders chosen by Moses at the command of Yahweh to share “the burden of the people” (Numbers 11:16-25) and to administer justice among the people. Eldad and his companion Medad were not present with the rest at the tent of meeting, yet the Spirit rested also upon them and they prophesied in the camp (Numbers 11:26-29). He, with Medad, prophesied in the camp instead of going with the rest to the tabernacle, as Moses had commanded. This incident was announced to Moses by Joshua, who thought their conduct in this respect irregular. Moses replied, “Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets” (Numbers 11:24-30; compare Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49).