1.
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Miriam. Named first to show she was first in the rebellion. See Numbers 12:10 . Compare Genesis 3:3 .
Ethiopian = Zipporah. Hebrew. Cushite. Arabia was in the land of Cush: or Zipporah (Exodus 2:21 ) may have been of Cushite nationality, though territorially a Midianite.
2.
And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
Hath . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
3.
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
very meek = patient. First occurrence. Hebrew. 'anah = to endure with submission what might be evaded: in contrast with Hebrew. 'ani = to bear what cannot be avoided.
men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
4.
And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. See App-40 .
5.
And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
door = entrance.
6.
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
He: i.e. Jehovah.
said. See note on Numbers 3:40 .
If there be = should there be; i.e. when ye have your prophet.
make Myself known. This also essential to a prophet. Compare Numbers 11:29 .
7.
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
My servant Moses. First occurrence. Occurs six times. See Numbers 12:7 , Numbers 12:8 . Joshua 1:2 , Joshua 1:7 ; 2 Kings 21:8 . Mai. Numbers 4:4 .
not so: i.e. much greater. Compare Numbers 12:8 .
who is faithful. Compare Hebrews 3:2 , or, Faithful is he, &c.
8.
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
mouth to mouth. Compare Genesis 45:12 . 2 John 1:12 , 3 John 1:14 . See also Exodus 33:11 .Deuteronomy 34:10 . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
apparently = plainly.
not, &c. = Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .
similitude: i.e. likeness or image. This must be understood in harmony with Exodus 33:20 , Exodus 33:23 . Compare Deuteronomy 4:12 , Deuteronomy 4:15 . Joh 1:18 . 1 Timothy 6:16 . Compare Colossians 1:15 .
against, &c. Hebrew "against my servant, against Moses. "Compare idiom in Genesis 21:10 and note.
9.
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
kindled: with instant result.
He: i.e. Jehovah.
10.
And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
leprous. See note on Exodus 4:6 .
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . = "there she was leprous! "abruptness of language reveals the excitement produced.
11.
And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
sin . . . sinned. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .
12.
Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
dead = stillborn.
the flesh. The Primitive Text lead "our flesh". This is one of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim (see App-33 ), to avoid what was supposed to he derogatory to Aaron.
his mother's. The Primitive Text read "our mother's" (see above note): thus it is made impersonal.
13.
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
GOD = El. = God, the mighty God. See App-4 .
spit in her face = treat with contempt: so the idiom is used in Syriac and Arabic to-day. Hebrew "had spitted a spitting. "Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Compare Job 30:10 .
seven days. Compare Leviticus 13:4 , Leviticus 13:5 , Leviticus 13:21 , Leviticus 13:26 .
received in. Homonym 'asaph (1) to heal or recover, here, 2 Kings 5:6 . Psalms 27:10 ; (2) to snatch away or destroy, Psalms 26:9 . Jeremiah 16:5 .
14.
And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
15.
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
brought = received, Numbers 12:14 .
16.
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.