Numbers 11 28

Numbers 11:28 kjv

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

Numbers 11:28 nkjv

So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, "Moses my lord, forbid them!"

Numbers 11:28 niv

Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"

Numbers 11:28 esv

And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, "My lord Moses, stop them."

Numbers 11:28 nlt

Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' assistant since his youth, protested, "Moses, my master, make them stop!"

Numbers 11 verses

Numbers 11 28 Meaning

Numbers 11:28 describes Joshua, Moses' loyal assistant, expressing his zealous concern regarding Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp. He perceives their prophetic activity, which occurred outside the designated gathering of the seventy elders, as a breach of order or a challenge to Moses' unique authority, and therefore urgently requests Moses to restrain them. This moment highlights Joshua's devotion and his focus on established structures, contrasting with Moses' broader vision for the Spirit's distribution among God's people.

Numbers 11 28 Context

Numbers chapter 11 begins with the people of Israel complaining against the LORD. Their incessant grumbling escalates into a longing for the varied foods of Egypt, spurning the manna God miraculously provided daily. Moses, burdened by their constant demands and ingratitude, reaches his breaking point and expresses his profound weariness to the LORD. In response, God instructs Moses to gather seventy elders of Israel at the Tent of Meeting, promising to take some of the Spirit that was on Moses and place it upon them so they could help bear the burden of the people. This unprecedented act of decentralizing spiritual authority was primarily to alleviate Moses' overwhelming leadership burden. When the seventy were gathered, the Spirit indeed came upon them, and they began to prophesy. Simultaneously, two men, Eldad and Medad, who had been registered among the seventy but had remained in the camp, also received the Spirit and began to prophesy within the camp. This unexpected display of divine power reaching beyond the convened assembly in the camp prompts a young man to report it to Moses. It is at this point, observing Eldad and Medad prophesying publicly, that Joshua intervenes with his plea to Moses in Numbers 11:28. His intervention sets up the stark contrast with Moses' magnanimous response in the following verse, a foundational statement about God's desire for all His people to be filled with His Spirit.

Numbers 11 28 Word analysis

• Then: Indicates the sequence of events, immediately following the report of Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp.
• Joshua: Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshua), meaning "The LORD is salvation." He is Moses' divinely appointed successor (Deut 34:9), a key figure in Israel's history, symbolizing obedient leadership and trust in God's power. His identity is deeply intertwined with Israel's future.
• the son of Nun: Standard way to identify individuals, connecting him to his lineage. Nun means "fish" or "perpetuity," but the primary function here is genealogical identification.
• the assistant: Hebrew: מְשָׁרֵת (mesharet), implying one who serves, ministers, or attends to another. This term denotes a close, devoted servant, often in a position of training or succession (cf. Ex 24:13; Ex 33:11). It suggests Joshua was more than just a helper; he was in a privileged position of tutelage, learning directly from Moses.
• of Moses: Specifies the leader to whom Joshua was attached, emphasizing Moses' central role and Joshua's subordinate but vital position.
• from his youth: Highlights the depth, duration, and faithfulness of Joshua's devotion and service to Moses. This was not a temporary assignment but a long-standing commitment, indicating loyalty and respect.
• responded and said: Hebrew: וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמֶר (vayya'an vayyomer), a common Hebrew construct expressing immediate reaction and verbal declaration. It suggests a strong, perhaps urgent, impulse to speak.
• My lord Moses: Hebrew: אֲדֹנִי מֹשֶׁה (adonai Mosheh). A formal and respectful address used for a superior or esteemed figure. It underscores Joshua's deep respect for Moses' authority and position. This is not a casual remark but a plea directed to his acknowledged leader.
• forbid them!: Hebrew: כְּלָאֵם (kela'em), meaning "restrain them," "shut them up," or "keep them back." It conveys a sense of urgency and a desire to stop an action perceived as illegitimate or dangerous. Joshua believes Eldad and Medad's actions need immediate curtailment. His motivation seems to stem from a concern for order and the perceived challenge to Moses' unique prophetic role, viewing prophecy outside the prescribed channels as a potential source of confusion or chaos. This plea reflects a deep concern for maintaining the divine order and Moses' preeminence.

Word Groups/Phrases Analysis:

• "Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth": This detailed identification portrays Joshua not just as an individual, but as a key figure intimately tied to Moses and his authority. It frames his action as coming from a place of deep-seated loyalty and concern for the established order and his master's honor. His actions are not rebellious but borne of intense loyalty and a protective instinct toward Moses.
• "My lord Moses, forbid them!": This short, direct address and imperative highlight Joshua's immediate and emotional reaction. The formal address combined with the urgent command reflects a plea driven by conviction and perceived necessity. He feels Eldad and Medad's public prophesying in the camp, rather than at the Tent of Meeting, threatens the hierarchical structure and the perceived exclusivity of spiritual manifestation through designated leaders. This phrasing suggests a clear, concise request to restore what he believes is proper order.

Numbers 11 28 Bonus section

The zeal expressed by Joshua here, while misdirected, can be understood as a quality often associated with devoted servants, particularly in protecting a leader or a divine system they believe in. This devotion, when tempered by divine perspective (as provided by Moses), can be incredibly valuable for God's purposes. Furthermore, the spontaneous nature of the Spirit's anointing on Eldad and Medad highlights the unpredictable and sovereign character of divine activity. God is not confined to the formal mechanisms of spiritual outpouring but can extend His gifts to anyone, anywhere, if it serves His will. This event provides an early scriptural foreshadowing of the New Covenant promise of the Spirit poured out "on all flesh," breaking down hierarchical and social barriers to prophetic activity. It reminds us that divine gifts are for equipping God's people broadly, not for human aggrandizement or exclusive control.

Numbers 11 28 Commentary

Numbers 11:28 captures a pivotal moment demonstrating a clash between established religious order and the spontaneous work of God's Spirit. Joshua, Moses' faithful and long-serving assistant, represents a common human inclination to protect a perceived divine order and a leader's unique authority. His concern arises from the fact that Eldad and Medad prophesied not among the seventy elders gathered at the Tent of Meeting, but "in the camp," appearing to act outside the direct, authorized assembly. Joshua's plea to "forbid them" reflects a deep loyalty to Moses and a concern that this "unauthorized" prophetic activity could undermine Moses' leadership or introduce confusion into the divine structure.

This incident anticipates future discussions in scripture regarding who can prophesy or be used by God (cf. Lk 9:49-50 where disciples want to stop someone casting out demons, and Paul's discussion on diverse spiritual gifts). Joshua’s reaction is understandable given his privileged access to Moses and his zealous dedication to his master. He genuinely believed he was upholding the divine command and Moses' dignity. However, Moses' profound and visionary response in the subsequent verse (Num 11:29), "Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!", beautifully reorients Joshua's understanding. Moses, far from feeling threatened, desires an expansive outpouring of God's Spirit upon all of Israel, indicating God's generosity with His gifts, extending beyond established boundaries and authorized individuals. The episode teaches that while order is important, God's Spirit operates sovereignly, sometimes exceeding human-made structures. It challenges us to embrace a wider view of God's work, not limiting the Spirit to predictable or controlled channels.