Miriam and Aaron Criticize Moses
Study note
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. But their real complaint was about leadership. They said, 'Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he also spoken through us?' God heard their words. The text notes that Moses was the most humble person on earth.
1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. They did this because he married a Cushite woman. And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 They said, "Does the Lord only speak through Moses? He speaks through us too, does he not?" The Lord heard them say this. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
3 Moses, for his part, was an extremely humble man -- more humble than anyone else on earth. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
God Defends Moses
Study note
God suddenly called all three of them to the tent of meeting. Speaking from a pillar of cloud, God explained the difference: he speaks to most prophets through visions and dreams, but with Moses he speaks face to face, plainly and not in riddles. God was angry that Miriam and Aaron dared to challenge his chosen leader.
4 Without warning, the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "All three of you, come to the tent of meeting right now." So the three of them went. 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.
5 The Lord descended in a pillar of cloud and stood at the tent's entrance. He called Aaron and Miriam forward, and the two of them stepped out. 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.
6 The Lord said, "Listen carefully: When a prophet is among you, I reveal myself through visions and speak through dreams." 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.
7 "But my servant Moses is different. He is the most trustworthy person in my entire household." My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8 "I speak with Moses face to face, plainly and openly, not through puzzles or riddles. He sees the Lord's form. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?" 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?
9 The Lord's anger burned against them, and he departed. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
Miriam Is Punished and Healed
Study note
When the cloud lifted, Miriam's skin had turned white with disease. Aaron begged Moses not to hold their foolish sin against them. Moses cried out to God to heal her. God said she must stay outside the camp for seven days, just as someone shamed by their father would. The whole camp waited for Miriam before moving on.
10 When the cloud moved away from above the tent, Miriam's skin had turned white with disease, as white as snow. Aaron looked at her and saw the terrible skin disease covering her. 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.
11 Aaron pleaded with Moses, "Please, my lord, do not punish us for this sin. We acted foolishly and we were wrong." 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.
12 "Please do not let her be like a stillborn baby whose body is already decaying when it comes from the womb." Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
13 Moses cried out to the Lord, "God, please heal her!" And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
14 The Lord answered Moses, "If her own father had spit in her face in disgust, she would be shamed for seven days, would she not? Keep her outside the camp for seven days. After that, she may come back." 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 So Miriam stayed outside the camp for seven days. The entire community waited and did not move on until she returned. And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and set up camp in the wilderness of Paran. And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.