Gobbets, Numbers 11:26-27

Divinity Gobbets Revision

 

Old Testament Studies with Brian Maregedze

Students are encouraged to treat gobbets with caution since they have led some students to fail to obtain their expected marks. If students have burning questions on gobbets post the question on the comment box.

NB: THE R.S.V BIBLE IS USED BY THE WRITER.

 

Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad,  and the spirit rested upon them; they were among those registered, but they had not  gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and  told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” (Numbers 11:26–27)

The general context is Moses’ impatience, expressed to God, concerning the complaints of the people in the wilderness concerning their lack of food, etc.. Yahweh’s response is the instruction to commission 70 elders to receive a share of Moses’ spirit in order to bear the burden with him.

Candidates might comment on some of the following:

• Credit details of the narrative

• This extract refers to the phenomenon of contagious ecstasy, where two elders received

The spirit even though they were outside the camp

• Comparison with e.g. 1 Samuel 10; 1 Kings 22

• It is assumed that the tent of meeting was outside the camp

• “registered” means enrolled as members of the community

• Joshua’s suggestion that Moses should forbid Eldad & Medad and Moses’ reply:

“Are you jealous for my sake? Would that the entire Lord’s people were prophets.”

• arrival of the quails, etc..

More points can be added

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