1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, "Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn't he spoken also with us?" And Yahweh heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very humble, above all the men who were on the surface of the earth. 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. 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. 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. 7 My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 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?" 9 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against them; and he departed. 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. 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 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." 13 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, "Heal her, God, I beg you!" 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." 15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in again. 16 Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.
Miriam and Aaron raise a sedition against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman he had married, Numbers 12:1, and through jealousy of his increasing power and authority, Numbers 12:2. The character of Moses, Numbers 12:3. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam are suddenly called to the tabernacle, Numbers 12:4. The Lord appears in the pillar of the cloud, and converses with them, Numbers 12:5. Declares his purpose to communicate his will to Moses only, Numbers 12:6-8. His anger is kindled against Miriam, and she is smitten with the leprosy, Numbers 12:9, Numbers 12:10. Aaron deplores his transgression, and entreats for Miriam, Numbers 12:11, Numbers 12:12. Moses intercedes for her, Numbers 12:13. The Lord requires that she be shut out of the camp for seven days, Numbers 12:14. The people rest till she is restored, Numbers 12:15, and afterwards leave Hazeroth, and pitch in the wilderness of Paran, Numbers 12:16.
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 12
In this chapter we have an account of Aaron and Miriam speaking against Moses, and for what reason, whose amiable character is given, Numbers 12:1; and of the Lord's calling them to him, and rebuking them for it, giving an excellent testimony to Moses, and then departing in anger, Numbers 12:4; and of Miriam's being smitten with leprosy, and Aaron's entreating Moses on his and her account, who prayed to the Lord to heal her, Numbers 12:10; and of her being ordered to be shut out of the camp seven days, during which time the Israelites stayed at Hazeroth, and then removed to the wilderness of Paran, Numbers 12:14.
(Numbers 12:1-9) God rebukes the murmuring of Aaron and Miriam.
(Numbers 12:10-16) Miriam struck with leprosy, and healed at the prayer of Moses.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.