The seventy elders of Israel were a group of leaders appointed by Moses to assist him in governing the Israelites during their time in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. Here is an overview of what the Bible tells us about these elders:
Appointment of the Seventy Elders
In Numbers 11, we read about how Moses was feeling overwhelmed by the burden of leading the Israelites on his own. God tells Moses that he will appoint seventy elders to help share this burden of leadership. God says “I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone” (Numbers 11:17 ESV).
God instructs Moses to gather seventy elders of Israel at the tent of meeting. When they arrive, God comes down in the cloud and takes some of the Spirit that was on Moses and puts it on the seventy elders. It says “as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not continue doing it” (Numbers 11:25 ESV).
Two of the seventy elders, Eldad and Medad, had not gone out to the tent of meeting but the Spirit also came upon them and they prophesied in the camp. When Joshua hears about this he asks Moses to forbid them, but Moses replies “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:29 ESV).
Role and Purpose of the Seventy Elders
The seventy elders were appointed to help Moses bear the burden of leading and governing the Israelite people. Leadership over several million people spread out across the wilderness was too much for one man to handle alone. The elders were filled with the Spirit of God to give them wisdom and ability to judge and govern the people under Moses’ oversight.
In Numbers 11:16-17, God tells Moses “I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.” So the seventy elders were given a portion of the same Spirit that was on Moses in order to share in his burdens of leadership.
In every place where the seventy elders are mentioned in Scripture, they appear as acting as leaders, advisors, and judges alongside Moses over the people. For example in Exodus 24, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel go up Mount Sinai to worship God and participate in covenant ceremony. These elders were representatives of the tribes of Israel participating in this covenant confirmation ceremony.
Identities of the Seventy Elders
The Bible does not provide a complete list of the names of the seventy elders. However, we are given some of their names and details:
- In Numbers 11:26 two of the seventy are identified as Eldad and Medad.
- In Exodus 24:1 the seventy elders are mentioned along with Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu.
- In Numbers 11:16, God tells Moses to gather seventy men who are known to be elders and officials over the people.
Based on these details, it seems the seventy elders were already recognized as leaders and officials within each of the tribes, families, or other groupings among the Israelite people. Moses summoned seventy of these existing leaders to come together as a council of elders under his and God’s authority.
Activities and Duties of the Seventy Elders
Here are some of the activities and duties that the seventy elders took part in as recorded in Scripture:
- Accompanying Moses up Mount Sinai as representatives of Israel for the covenant ceremony (Exodus 24:1,9)
- Seeing the God of Israel on Mount Sinai and participating in a meal together (Exodus 24:9-11)
- Helping judge and settle disputes among the people alongside Moses (Exodus 18:13-26)
- Prophesying when the Spirit was placed on them to assist Moses (Numbers 11:24-25)
- Acting as intercessors for the people pleading for God’s mercy after rebellion (Numbers 14:5)
- Supporting the leadership of Joshua after the death of Moses (Joshua 1:10-18)
The elders continued to play an important leadership role alongside Joshua after entering the Promised Land. They helped lead the ceremonies when the ark of the covenant crossed the Jordan (Joshua 3:3-4). They were part of allocating the land among the remaining tribes (Joshua 14:1). The elders outlived Joshua and continued governing the people during the time of the judges (Judges 2:7).
Qualifications to be a Seventy Elder
Although no explicit qualifications are given for being appointed as one of the seventy elders, some qualifications can be inferred or assumed based on the responsibilities given to them:
- They had to be recognized leaders and officials within their tribes (Numbers 11:16)
- Their role involved judging and settling disputes, so wisdom and good judgment were necessary
- They shared in the burdens of spiritual leadership over the people, so spiritual maturity was important
- They acted as representatives of the people before God, so respect and trust of the people was vital
- Their advanced age contributed to the wisdom and experience needed for leadership
The prerequisites for elder leadership we see in passages like Exodus 18, Numbers 11, and 1 Timothy 3 likely applied – things like being able to judge disputes, being respectable, being temperate, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
Connection to the Sanhedrin
There appears to be a connection between Israel’s seventy elders and the Sanhedrin council that emerged later in Israel’s history. After the Jews returned from exile, the Sanhedrin served as the highest legal, legislative, and judicial council over the Jewish nation ruling under Roman authority. This council was also referred to as a Council of Elders.
There is debate over when the Sanhedrin first originated, but it likely evolved from the councils of elders that governed the Israelites all the way back to the first seventy elders appointed by Moses. By the first century A.D. the Sanhedrin consisted of seventy-one members according to Jewish tradition – seventy elders plus the High Priest.
New Testament References
The only New Testament reference to the seventy elders is when Peter appeals to the “elders” (Greek presbyteros) of Israel in Acts 5:21. He likely addressed the Sanhedrin, who would have seen themselves as successors to the seventy elders of Moses.
There is no direct relationship between the seventy elders under Moses’ leadership and the appointment of the seventy disciples by Jesus in Luke 10. However, Jesus’ choice of appointing seventy disciples to carry his message may have been meant as a symbolic parallel to the appointment of Israel’s first seventy elders under Moses.
Summary of Key Points
- The seventy elders were leaders appointed by God to assist Moses in governing and judging the Israelites.
- They were given a portion of the Spirit that was on Moses to equip them for leadership.
- The elders acted as representatives, judges, prophets, and intercessors on behalf of the Israelites.
- Qualifications likely included wisdom, maturity, respectability, and being able to judge disputes.
- They helped ease the burdens of leadership on Moses during the wilderness wanderings.
- The elders continued leading alongside Joshua after entering Canaan.
- They set a precedent for future councils of elders ruling over Israel.
The seventy elders of Israel played a vital leadership role under Moses in the founding of the Israelite nation. They provide an early model of shared leadership and council-based governance in ancient Israel.
