Numbers Chapter 12
From The Open Bible Project
12:1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.
- (a) Zipporah, Moses’ wife, was a Midianite, and because Midian bordered on Ethiopia, it is sometimes referred to in the scriptures by this name.
12:2 They said, "Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn't he spoken also with us?" And Yahweh heard it.
12:3 Now the man Moses was very humble, above all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
- (b) And so endured their grudging, although he knew of them.
12:4 Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, "You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!" The three of them came out.
12:5 Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward.
12:6 He said, "Hear now my words. If there is a prophet among you, I Yahweh will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream.
- (c) These were the two ordinary means.
12:7 My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
- (d) In all Israel which was his Church.
12:8 With him I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh's form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?"
- (e) As far as any man was able to comprehend, which he calls his back parts, (Exodus 33:23).
12:9 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against them; and he departed.
12:10 The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
- (f) From the door of the tabernacle.
12:11 Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, please don't count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned.
12:12 Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb."
- (g) As a child that is stillborn, as if it is only the skin.
12:13 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, "Heal her, God, I beg you!"
12:14 Yahweh said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn't she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again."
- (h) In his displeasure.
12:15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in again.
12:16 Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.
- (a) That is, in Rithmah, which was in Paran, (Numbers 33:18).
