At the very moment a group of distinguished elders receives the spirit of prophecy at the Tabernacle, a highly unusual event unfolds deep within the Israelite camp. Two men, destined for greatness, experience an independent and unexpected prophetic revelation far removed from the main gathering.
The primary approach among commentators is that Moses was instructed to select seventy elders. To prevent jealousy among the twelve tribes, he chose six representatives from each, totaling seventy-two men. To determine which two would be excluded, Moses conducted a lottery using slips of paper. According to one perspective, Eldad and Medad participated in this lottery, drew blank slips, and remained in the camp out of embarrassment [אור החיים, בכור שור]. However, many commentators explain that the two men never approached the lottery at all. Driven by profound humility, they felt unworthy of such greatness and removed themselves from consideration to avoid shaming the two men who would otherwise be rejected [רש״י, רש״ר הירש, אלשיך]. Others suggest they simply refused to leave the camp for the Tabernacle [שד״ל]. Regarding their identity, some suggest these men were Moses' half-brothers [תולדות יצחק, ברכת אשר].
Even though they stayed behind, their names were explicitly written on the original candidate list or on the lottery slips themselves [רש״י, אבן עזרא, חזקוני]. Although they were designated for this leadership role, they did not join the other elders at the Tabernacle [אבן עזרא]. Yet, despite their physical distance, the prophetic spirit rested upon them. God recognized their deep humility and chose to reward them with prophecy specifically because of their modest spirit [אור החיים, צרור המור]. Alternatively, the prophetic spirit descended upon them so suddenly while they were still in the camp that they were physically prevented from making the journey to the Tabernacle [העמק דבר].
The prophetic experience of Eldad and Medad differed fundamentally from that of the other elders. While the seventy elders received their prophecy indirectly through the spiritual illumination of Moses, these two men received direct prophecy straight from God [מלבי״ם, חזקוני, תולדות יצחק]. This distinction created a significant gap. The prophecy of the seventy elders was temporary and eventually ceased, whereas the prophecy of Eldad and Medad was permanent. Because their prophetic source was independent of Moses, they were able to foresee future events that were hidden from Moses himself. This included visions of Moses' approaching death and the Israelites entering the land under Joshua's leadership, as well as the ultimate war of Gog and Magog at the end of days [מלבי״ם, תורה תמימה, תולדות יצחק].
Their presence in the camp carries a profound underlying message. By prophesying among the ordinary tents, they demonstrated that God's spirit is not confined to a single holy location like the Tabernacle [שפתי כהן]. Furthermore, it showed that a true prophet must be deeply involved with the people. Rather than isolating themselves in a sacred tent, spiritual leaders must live among the community and intimately understand the daily reality of human life [קונטרס חיבה יתירה].