במדבר פרק יא
כה וַיֵרֶׁד ה' בֶׁעָנָן וַיְדַבֵר אֵלָיו וַיָאצֶׁל מִּן-הָרוּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו וַיִּתֵן עַל-שִּבְעִּים אִּיש הַזְקֵנִּ ים וַיְהִּי כְנוֹחַ עֲלֵיהֶׁם הָרוּחַ וַיִּתְנַבְאוּ וְלֹא יָסָפוּ :
כו וַיִּשָאֲרוּ שְנֵי-אֲנָשִּים בַמַחֲנֶׁה שֵם הָאֶׁחָד אֶׁלְדָד וְשֵם הַשֵנִּ י מֵידָד וַתָנַח עֲלֵהֶׁם הָרוּחַ וְהֵ מָה בַכְתֻבִּים וְלֹא יָצְאוּ הָאֹהֱלָה וַיִּתְנַבְאוּ בַמַחֲנֶׁה :
כז וַיָרָץ הַנַעַר וַיַגֵד לְמשֶׁה וַיֹאמַר אֶׁלְדָד וּמֵידָד מִּתְנַבְאִּים בַמַחֲנֶׁה:
כח וַיַעַן יְהוֹשֻעַ בִּן-נוּן מְשָרֵת משֶׁה מִּבְחֻרָיו וַיֹאמַר אֲדֹנִּי משֶׁה כְלָאֵם:
Sanhedrin 17A ישארו (they remained)
Some say that their lottery cards remained in the box. R. Shimon says they (Eldad and Medad) remained in the camp. They believed that they were not worthy of this greatness. HaShem said, since you considered yourselves smaller than the others, I will make you greater than them! The others prophesized, but only temporarily. These two prophesized and did not cease.
What is the source of the disagreement between the first Tanna (that the 2 lots remained in the box) and Rabbi Shimon (that Eldad and Medad remained in the camp)?
Rashi: The first Tanna agrees that Eldad and Medad remained in the camp. They disagree on why they remained in the camp. The first Tanna held that they were fearful that they would select the blank lottery card due to embarrassment. Rabbi Shimon held that due to their humility they refrained from participating in the lottery
Yad Ramah: Rabbi Shimon believed all 72 Elders became prophets. The 70 others did select the cards that said “zakein”, and Eldad and Medad did not believe they were worthy and those choose to remain in the camp. In merit of that action, HaShem made them greater than the other 70.
Ria”z: The first Tanna held that all 72 went to select from the lottery. However, after the first 70 had selected lots including two that selected clean lots. Then Eldad and Medad knew they did not need to select since the two remaining lots said “zakein.” Rabbi Shimon held that due to their humility Eldad and Medad did not attend the lottery.
Raba”z: The first Tanna held that Eldad and Medad were embarrassed to take the last two lots since they might be blank. Rabbi Shimon held that Eldad and Medad did not go and therefore, Moshe selected two others and proceeded with the lottery.
Ra’am: They disagreed about the lot that was left after the first seventy selected. The first Tanna held that the remaining lots were blank, and remained unselected. Rabbi Shimon held that the remaining lots read “zakein”, but due to their humility, Eldad and Medad did not select.
Ari z”l: Different leaders of the Jews are linked to different parts of the Primordial Man. Eldad and Medad were related to the breasts (דד) that nourished the nation. Eldad to the right (א-ל); Medad to the right (מי) with HaShem (ה) in the middle.
Sanhedrin 17A (Yehoshua suggested to Moshe) "Kela'em". What does this mean?
Impose the needs of the Tzibur on them. They will (become sad and) cease (to prophesize).
Why was the intent of Yehoshua that Moshe should perform"כלאם" to Eldad and Medad?
Rashi: Put them in jail.
Ramban: Moshe should pray to HaShem that their prophecy should stop due to Moshe’s honor.
Chizkuni: Moshe should instruct them to only prophesize in their house and not in public, which applies to any other prophet (like the 70 Elders), since only Moshe makes public prophecies.
Sanhedrin 17A What prophecy did Eldad and Medad have?
They prophesized that Moshe will die and Yehoshua will lead Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael. They prophesized about the Slav (the birds Hashem provided in response to Yisrael's desire for meat). They prophesized about Gog and Magog (who will make war at the time of Moshiach).
Why didn’t anyone ask what the 70 Elders prophesized?
The Torah tells us that their prophecy was true, since HaShem transferred the spirit from Moshe to them. Thus, one needed to ask about the prophecies of Eldad and Medad to see if they were true.
What is the source for the three interpretations of the prophecy of Eldad and Medad?
Maharsha: Each learns from the word in the verse 26 that they prophesized in the “machaneh” (the camp). Regarding Yehoshua, it is connected that he would serve as leader of the camp after Moshe. Regarding the Slav, verse 31 in this chapter states the Slav was spread over the camp. And regarding the matter of Gog and Magog, the intention of the prophecy regards the large encampment of the future world.
Iyun Eliyahu: The 70 Elders received their level of prophecy through Moshe. Eldad and Medad received their level of prophecy directly from HaShem. Thus, their prophecy would be regarding matters that Moshe could not prophesize. Obviously, Moshe was unaware that Yehoshua was destined to lead the Jews into Eretz Yisrael, since he continued to request that opportunity. Nor was Moshe aware of the Slav, since he asked where he would obtain the necessary meat to feed the people. And regarding Gog and Magog, Moshe was not involved since he believed he was leading the Jews directly into Eretz Yisrael to the era of Moshiach without the engagement with Gog and Magog.
Did Eldad and Medad have the same or different prophecies?
Maharsha: They had the same prophecy and the different Sages disagreed on what they prophesized.
Tosfos Yeshanim: Eldad prophesized about Yehoshua and Moshe, Medad prophesized about the Slav, and they both prophesized about Gog and Magog.
What is the allusion that Eldad and Medad prophesized about the death of Moshe?
Baal HaTurim: the word מתנבאים can be read as מת נביאם. Also, that word could also be mnemonic פשו נ נוח תשה מ כניס מהושע ילקים אגן ב ; or Perush HaRosh כניסמהושע יז אעדן בפשו נ נוח תשה מ
Chasam Sofer: General concept that the seventy members of the Sanhedrin are in contrast to the seventy nations of the world. However, there are seventy two nations, but Kasdim and Edom are not included since these two nations do not have an assisting angel above. Thus, these two nations were able to destroy the two Batei Mikdashim, since that is why they existed. Moshe was aware that if he would lead the Jews into Eretz Yisrael, the Bais HaMikdash would not be destroyed. Therefore, Moshe was unaware of these two nations since they did not yet exist, and only selected seventy Elders. Now that Eldad and Medad also were prophets, there must be 72 nations, which perforce meant that these two new nations’ purpose was to destroy the Bais HaMikdash and thus, Moshe would be destined to die in the desert and not lead the Jews into Eretz Yisrael.
Rambam classified the type of prophecy that came to Eldad and Medad as being of the second degree, “steps leading to prophecy.” The prominent characteristics of this level are the ability to deliver useful and enlightening words of wisdom. A person at this level feels that he is not speaking from his own intelligence, but that words of wisdom newly instilled in him are coming forth, accompanied by a sense of inner awakening, stirring him to take action to change a given situation. According to the Rambam, all the books in the Writings (but not the Prophets) were written at this level of prophecy. He also includes the words of Dovid, Shlomo, Daniel and others in this level, and surprisingly, contrary to the opinion of the Sages, also the seventy Elders.
