Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 11:25

25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders, and it came to pass, that when the spirit rested upon them , they prophesied , and did not cease .

(i. e.) Not onely moved them for a time, but took up his settled abode with them, because the use and end of this gift was not temporary but perpetual.

(i. e.) Discoursed of the word and works of God in a singular and marvellous manner, as the Prophets did. So this word is used 1 Sam. 10. 5, 6. Ioel 2. 28. Act. 2. 17. 1 Cor. 14. 3. Yet were they not hereby constituted Prophets or teachers, but civil Magistrates and Rulers, who together with the spirit of government, which is here sufficiently implied, received also the spirit of Prophecy, as a sign and seal both to themselves and to the people that God had called them to that employment and would be with them in it, as it was with Saul upon the same occasion, 1 Sam. 10. 10.

Either for that day, they continued in that exercise all that day, and, it may be, all the night too, as it is said of Saul, 1 Sam. 19. 24. or, afterwards also, to note that this was a continued gift conferred upon them to enable them the better to discharge their Magistracy; which was more expedient for them then for the Rulers of other people, because the Iews were under a Theocracy or the government of God, and even their civil controversies were decided out of that word of God which the Prophets expounded, and in their wilderness condition they had frequent occasions of seeking counsel from God, which was the work of Prophets, and they were to determine all things agreeably to the mind and will of God, which therefore they were obliged to study. Others translate the words, and they added not: so the sence is, They prophecyed onely this day for an assurance of vocation to and due qualification for their work, but afterwards they prophecyed no more, the gift of prophecy ceased in them, and onely the spirit of government rested upon them.

Marginal references: Gr. added, or [illegible: 1+ letters]ded no [illegible: 1 word].