Kaisipang Hudyo sa Mga Bilang 11:29: Derashot HaRan

In addition to this, Joshua suspected that their exertions to attain prophecy were motivated not so much by a desire for prophecy as by envy at not having been selected for the leadership of Israel together with the seventy elders. For up to now they had not exerted themselves to attain prophecy, so that it seemed that they were interested not so much in prophecy itself as in lording it over the congregation by means of it. For this reason Joshua asked: "My lord, Moses, imprison them!" — that is, let their punishment be measure for measure. Because they desired to lead the Jews and make them subservient to themselves, it was only fitting that Moses punish them by divesting them even of self-leadership! For when one is in prison, not only (needless to say) is the direction of others not in his hands, but even his own conduct and all of his movements are ruled over by others. But Moses our teacher, may peace be upon him, in his modesty, answered and said (Numbers 11:29): "Are you jealous for my honor?…" That is, there is nothing in what they are doing for me to be concerned about. For as far as jealousy for Moses' honor, Moses was not concerned about this at all. And he was likewise, not apprehensive that their acts might adversely affect the leadership, in that they would act through the agency of prophecy, granted them by the L-rd. This is the intent of Moses' words (Ibid): "Would that all of the L-rd's people would prophesy, that the L-rd would place His spirit upon them." That is, if they exerted themselves to attain to leadership over Israel through some potentially destructive agency, there would, indeed, be cause for concern. But if the L-rd concurred in their act and placed His spirit upon them, there would be no reason whatsoever to fear that the leadership might be undermined. For "no evil thing descends from Heaven," the L-rd having already taken adequate precautions against this in having conferred prophecy through Moses upon the seventy elders of His desire.