Midras Bilangan 11:25: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Aggadat Bereshit, Vayikra Rabbah & Midrash Tanchuma

The master said above: "All the seventy had prophesied once, and ceased; but these two did not cease to prophecy." Whence do we infer this? Shall we assume it from the following passage (Num. 11, 25) They prophesied V'lo yassoff, which means they never prophesied again. If so, then how will you explain the passage (Deut. 5, 19) "With a great voice V'lo yassoff?" Does this also mean that it was never heard again? [The Shechina was surely heard in later times]. We must therefore say Yassoff means "not ceased;" if so, then the above inference is gone! We infer it from this passage: "And they prophesied [in the past] while concerning Eldad and Medad it is written, "are prophesying" [present tense]. In regard to the statement that their prophecy was "Moses shall die," it is readily understood, for it is written (Num. 11, 28) My Lord Moses, forbid them. But according to him who said they prophesied about other things, why, then, should they be forbidden? Because it was not seemly for them thus to prophesy in the presence of Moses, which appears as if a scholar decides a question in the presence of his teacher. What is meant by the words, forbid them? He said to Moses: "Throw upon them the care for the public, and they will cease [to prophesy] by themselves."

Chapter 2: Prophets. [1] Thus says the Lord God, "On that day, thoughts will arise in your heart, and you will devise an evil plan." (Ezekiel 38:10) The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Gog, "Do not say that which you are thinking in your heart, as if I do not know. Jeremiah said, 'The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?' (Jeremiah 17:9) I said to him, 'I created 248 organs in man, and all of them act according to their nature as I created them, except for the heart. The heart changes from moment to moment and twists itself. It is crooked and deceitful above all things.' The heart is crooked and deceitful above all things, and who can know it? I am the Lord who searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:10). I created you, and I know what you are. Do not say that since I created you, I know your heart. Even before I created you, I knew what you would think." This is why David commanded Solomon his son, saying, "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind" (1 Chronicles 28:9). Why? Because the Lord searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts (ibid). Rabbi Acha said, "What is the meaning of 'and understands every intent of the thoughts'? Even before a man forms his thoughts in his heart, the Holy One, blessed be He, knows what he is going to think." This is what He said to Sennacherib, "Because you rage against Me, and your arrogance has come up to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came" (Isaiah 37:29). Even before I created you, I knew what you were going to do, as it is said, "And your going out and your coming in I know" (ibid. 37:28), "When you made yourself stand up from your throne and do repentance, as it says 'The matter reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.' (Jonah 3:6) But because you became angry with me, as it says 'Because you raged against me...' (Isaiah 37:29), Rabbi Hiyya bar Kahana asked, 'What caused you to become angry with me?' God replied, 'Because I gave you peace and quiet. If you had been a launderer with a basket in your hand and a hoe on your shoulder and cleaning a pit, you would not have angered me.' Therefore it is said, 'Because you became angry, for what reason, and your arrogance has reached my ears.' (Isaiah 37:28) And what should I do? I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth (Isaiah 37:29), like how one leads a donkey. I did the same with Gog, as it says 'I am against you, Gog... and I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws...' (Ezekiel 38:3-4). God said to him, 'Do not say that I do not know what you were destined to do. Look, I said to you many generations before.'" "As it is said, thus says the Lord God: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? (Ezekiel 38:17) Do not say 'years,' but rather 'generations.' Many generations ago, I spoke to Eldad and Medad, who prophesied about you, as it is written, 'And there remained two men in the camp, the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other was Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp' (Numbers 11:26). What does it mean that 'they prophesied, and did not continue'? They prophesied and said that after Gog and Magog there would be no more exile or servitude. Many generations before you, they prophesied about you. And not only that, but Ezekiel also prophesied about what you are planning in your heart, as it is written, 'Thus says the Lord God: It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought' (Ezekiel 38:10). Therefore it is said, 'Scoffers set a snare for thyself' (Proverbs 9:12). I, the Lord, search the heart, I search it's thoughts (Jeremiah 17:10)."

Rabbi Azarya in the name of Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon interpreted the verse regarding Isaiah. Isaiah said: ‘I was at leisure in my study hall, and I heard the voice of the Holy One blessed be He saying: “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). [God said:] I sent Micah, and they were striking him on his cheek. That is what is written: “With a rod they strike on the cheek” (Micah 4:14). I sent Amos and they would call him stutterer, as Rabbi Pinḥas said: Why was his name called Amos? It was because he was cumbrous [amus] of tongue. Now, “whom shall I send and who will go for us?” “I said: Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Isaiah, My children, they are troublesome and insubordinate. If you accept upon yourself to be demeaned and to be stricken by My children, you will go on My mission, but if not, you will not go on My mission.’ He said to Him: ‘[I am willing to accept] this condition; “I gave my body to those who smite and my cheeks to those who pluck” (Isaiah 50:6). But I am not worthy to go on a mission to Your children.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Isaiah, “you love righteousness,” you love to vindicate My children; “and detest wickedness,” you detest condemning them. “Therefore, God your God, has anointed you.”’ What is “over your counterparts”? He said to him: ‘As you live, all the prophets received their prophetic capacity from a prophet: “He drew from the spirit that was upon him [and placed it upon the seventy elders…they prophesied]” (Numbers 11:25). “They said: The spirit of Elijah has rested upon Elisha” (II Kings 2:15). But you, from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed…” (Isaiah 61:1). As you live, all the prophets prophesy simple prophecies, but you [will receive] compound prophecies of consolation: “Awaken, awaken, [clothe yourself with splendor…]” (Isaiah 51:9), “awaken yourself, awaken yourself, [arise, O Jerusalem…]” (Isaiah 51:17), “I will be gladdened [sos asis]” (Isaiah 61:10), “I, I [am He who comforts you…]” (Isaiah 51:12), “Comfort, comfort [My people, says your God]”’ (Isaiah 40:1).