Rashi says in Megillah 14a and Rabainu Chananal says in 14b the 48 Neviim. How come none of them include Eldod Umaidod?
Aaron Pacanowski, Melbourne, Australia
The prophesies of Eldad and Meidad are not recorded. It therefore appears that they are included in the Gemara's statement which concedes that in actual fact there where numerous Nevi'im, only since their prophesies were not needed, they were not recorded, and that is why they were not listed among the forty-eight.
Be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler
The prophesy of Miriam is also not recorded explicitly in the Torah, yet she is counted as a prophetess. Chazal tell us what her prophesy was. Similarly Chazal told us that the prophecy of Eldad and Meidad was that Moshe Rabbeinu would be niftar and Yehoshua would take the Yiden into Eretz Yisroel.
So what is the difference between Eldad and Meidad and Miriam?
The difference between Eldad and Meidad and Miriam is that whereas the former two were men, the latter was a woman. What I mean to say is that there were many thousands of Nevi'im, so Chazal listed only those whose prophesies were needed for the future. On the other hand, there were only seven Nevi'os altogether, so Chazal listed them all, whether their Nevu'os were needed for the future or not.
be'Virchas kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler