Numbers 12

Numbers 12:1

C. Rebellion of Aaron and Miriam (Chap. 12)12:1, 2 The next sad chapter in the history of Israel concerns two of the leaders of the people, Miriam and Aaron. Though they were Moses’ sister and brother, they spoke against him for marrying an Ethiopian woman. At least that was their pretext. But the real reason seems to be given in verse 2: they resented Moses’ leadership and wanted to share itthey were jealous. At this time there was no law against marrying an Ethiopian, though when they came to the land, the Israelites were forbidden to marry a non-Jew. 12:3 Moses did not try to vindicate himself but trusted God, who had placed him in the position of leadership. His family (chap. 12), the leaders (chap. 16), and ultimately the whole congregation (Num_16:41-42) disputed his authority. Yet when the judgment of God fell upon his adversaries, Moses did not gloat but interceded for them. He was indeed very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. The fact that he wrote this about himself does not deny his humility; rather it illustrates 2Pe_1:21 b; he wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. 12:4-8 God summoned Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, rebuked Miriam and Aaron, and reminded them that Moses held a position of nearness to God that no other prophet ever held. He might speak to others indirectly, by visions and dreams, but He spoke to Moses directly, face to face. (The word plainly in v. 8 means “directly,” i.e., without a go-between.) The form of the LORD means some manifestation or visible representation. Although Miriam herself was a prophetess (Exo_15:20), the Lord made clear the difference between His relationship with Moses and other prophets. The only other thing recorded about Miriam after this incident is her death (Num_20:1). 12:9, 10 The LORD was angry with them, and He departed. As punishment for her rebellion, Miriam was smitten with leprosy. Since Aaron was not punished, some suggest that Miriam was the ringleader. They point out that the verb in verse 1 is feminine singular. Others believe that Aaron’s punishment was to see his sister become a leper. Aaron was the high priest, and he would have been unable to function on behalf of the people if he had been made leprous. His position might have saved him from the humiliation that Miriam had to go through. 12:11-16 Aaron confessed his sin to Moses and asked that Miriam should not be “like a stillborn child, which comes into the world half decomposed.” In response to Moses’ intercession, God healed Miriam of the leprosy but insisted that she should go through the usual seven-day period for the cleansing of a leper. The Lord reminded Moses that she would have been barred from the camp as unclean if her father had but spit in her face.