Numbers 12

Chap. XII. Ver. 1—16. Miriam and Aaron’s sedition.— Before we enter on this history, it may be proper to notice an objection urged by Paine, and others, against Moses being the author of this book, because he speaks of himself as “ very meek.” It has been answered, that pagan authors have done the like; but we do not wish to place him on a level with them. It is better answered, that “ the words are a parenthesis, most probably inserted by another hand; and are to be considered either as a reason why he did not reply to his enemies, but the Lord; or else they are insinuated as an answer to the charge of his enemies, and imply, that so far from assuming an authority to which he was not deputed, his disposition was rather to withdraw, even when his call was most evident, as appears in another instance.”

((Exodus 3:11-13), iv. 10-13, &c.) It is doubtful, however, whether meek be the proper meaning. “I am doubtful whether or not, in this case, the original term may not intend a weakness, rather than a virtue, and imply that Moses was timid and mild, even to a fault.” Moses appears in several instances to have laboured under great depression of spirits, as upon his first call to be the liberator of the Israelites. So in the chapter preceding this, his reasoning with the Lord on the impossibility of feeding the Israelites with flesh, can only be accounted for from his labouring under a depression of mind, which led him to magnify difficulties in a case where none could possibly occur: for, “Is any thing too hard for Jehovah?”

((Genesis 17:14).) Again, in the instance now before us, when his brother and sister both murmured and conspired against him, he says nothing to either, but prays for them. It is true that, in some few instances, he discovered irritability, and a hasty temper; but this is often the case with persons labouring under nervous affections, as seems to have been the case with Moses. But in neither of these suppositions have we any solid objection to Moses being the author of this book. The sacred history is so concise, that, at this distance of time, it is often difficult to ascertain particulars. The quarrel before us seems to have originated in some words between Miriam and Zipporah, the Ethiopian woman whom Moses had married; an imprudent match, as it should seem, but contracted at a time when Moses had no idea of the elevated and important sphere in which he was called subsequently to move.

That Miriam was first and principally in fault, Ainsworth infers from the Hebrew verb being feminine; though, by the next verse, it is evident they were both in fault, and were, therefore, both called up to judgment. The insinuation was, that Moses took too much upon him, the Lord be spoken by them also: but the Lord condescends to state, that he had distinguished Moses by a degree of intimacy and familiarity (so to speak) with which no other prophet had ever been favoured. “Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and the cloud arose from the tabernacle, in a manner that indicated the Lord had taken his departure.

And “Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous white as snow.” Astonished and alarmed, he cried to Moses, who, though the insulted party, with all the affection of a brother prayed for her, and she was healed; but banished seven days from the tabernacle, to humble her before the congregation. Thus terminated a sedition which threatened the most serious consequences, both to Moses and the Israelites. The former, leaving his cause in the hand of God, was safe; and the offenders, through his intercession, were humbled and forgiven.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XII. Ver. 1. And Miriam and Aaron spake.—Hebrew, “And Miriam (or Mary) she spake, and Aaron.” — An Ethiopian woman.—Hebrew, “The woman the Cushite.” Cush here signifies that part of Arabia Deserta which was then called Midian.—Dr. Wail. Ver. 3. The meekest man upon earth.—Supposing these to be the words of Moses, and rightly translated, it has been remarked, that in Homer, Ulysses calls himself the wisest of the Greeks, and Achilles represents himself as the most valiant, &c. See Orient. Cust. No. 729. As to the meaning of the original, the radical idea, as given by Parkhurst, is, ‘to act upon, to affect in a bad sense, to be oppressed, depress, humble.” It produces its effect as sound does an echo in reply; hence it is often used in the sense of answering. When used to express humility, it is in the sense of being humbled by injury or oppression; so it is applied to humbling a woman by defilement, as in the case of Dinah, (Genesis 34:2). See also (Deuteronomy 21:14); xxii. 24, 29. Dr. Clarke, who takes the word in the sense of oppressed, or overburdened, refers to the complaint of Moses in the preceding chapter, (ver. 11—14.) “Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? Wherefore layest thou the burden of all this people upon me?” Moses, then, so far from assuming improper authority, was, at times at least, the most depressed man of the age. After all, however, the words appear to be a parenthesis. Ver. 10. Leprous, white as snow.—This was the sorest species of leprosy.

See (Exodus 4:6). (Leviticus 13:19)., &c. Ver. 12. As one dead.—By this it appears that the whiteness was as dead flesh. See (Leviticus 13:4-5)., &c. Thus is she held forth as a warning to others. See (Deuteronomy 24:9). Ver. 14. Spit in her face.—Rather, “Spit before her.” Sir John Chardin remarks, that spitting before any one, in speaking of his actions, is, through the East, an expression of extreme detestation. See (Deuteronomy 25:9).—Harmer, vol. i. p. 510. Ver. 16. Hazeroth. {The exact situation of this place is unknown. Dr. Shaw computes it to be three days’ journey, i. e. thirty miles from Sinai. From this passage, it appears that the wilderness of Paran commenced immediately upon their leaving this station.

Calmet observes, that there is a town called Hazor, in Arabia Petrea, in all probability the same as Hazerim, the ancient habitation of the Hivites, ((Deuteronomy 2:23).) and likewise, according to all appearances, the Hazeroth where the Hebrews encamped.}—Bagster.