Thank you for the question on the 70 Elders in Exodus 24 and Numbers 11, “Are the seventy elders mentioned in Exodus 24 the same as the ones mentioned in numbers 11 (exodus, referent identification, numbers, Moses, hermeneutics)?”
As the book of Exodus unfolds, the enslaved Jews had some form of respected leaders known as elders (Exod. 3:16, 29–30), 12:21, 17:5–6). It would have been something similar to the Patriarchs of the 12 tribes but with the number of people it is likely that there were more respected men among the tribes being viewed as leaders of the tribes.
In Exodus 24:1, God invites Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders to worship the LORD. God places a limit of 70 elders among all the elders of Israel. The specification of who the selected 70 elders were left to the people to decide. The text does not state that Moses selected the 70 elders. The arrival and advice of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, helped organized the legal aspect of applying the Law, but it does not appear that the 70 elders who worshiped the LORD were part of the established governing body.
As the biblical narrative continues in Numbers, it is in the second year as the Israelites began to prepare to travel to the Promised Land. The LORD organizes the people by tribes and their recognized leaders for the March. As they began their travel, the people complained about the lack of food (Nu. 11).
God declares that he will provide food for the people. The text states that God told Moses to bring seventy elders “who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. “Thus Moses had the privilege of selecting 70 elders whom he knew and trusted.
One can conclude that the 70 elders in Exodus 24:1 may not have been the same ones chosen in Nu. 11. Exodus 24 appears more so that the people chose the 70 while in Nu. 11, Moses chose the 70 elders. The difference is that these 70 Elders were to be given the Spirit to assist Moses. “…and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit in them” for the purpose of carrying the burden of the people.”
It would be reasonable that some of the 70 Elders of Nu. 11 were part of the 70 men who worshiped with Moses. The selection of the 70 Elders distinguished them from among the elders of Israel. They were now formally recognized as the leaders of Israel along with Moses. They are the 70 Elders of Israel.
SUMMARY: The 70 Elders in Numbers 11 included some of the 70 elders who worshiped with Moses on Mount Horeb. They are not necessarily the same 70 men in Exodus 24 and Numbers 11. This is for one’s consideration.
For more perspectives: