Numbers 12
DortMiriams and Aarons murmuring against Moseh, v.1. etc. for which they are both rebuked of God, 6. And Miriam besides punished with leprosy, 10. Aaron humbleth himself before Moseh, who intercedeth for Miriam to the LORD, 11. And is heard in her behalf, she remaining seven days without the Camp, 14.
1. Miriam now spake, and Aaron, against Moseh, [Miriam is placed before Aaron here, for that it should seem she was the first raiser of this murmuring ; for which cause she was the likewise punished in an especial manner, below, v.10.] by reason of the woman the Cusite, which he had taken; [her proper name, as some conceive was Zippora, Exodus 2:21. But she is called a Cusite, from the people of whom she descended; understand not the Cusites issued from Cham, Genesis 10:6. But of the Midianites; it seems the scripture doth comprehend under the name of Cusites, only the Moors or Ethopians, but also the Egyptians, & the Arabians, and the Midianites, and the people inhabiting southward. See Gen. 2. On v.13. and 10. On v. 6. Others, the Moore or Ethopian] for he had taken a Cusite to wife.
2. And they said, hath the LORD then spoken only by Moseh? Hath he not likewise spoken only by Moseh? Hath he not likewise spoken by us? [Miriam is called a Prophetess, Exodus 15:20. And God hath promised to be with Aarons mouth, that he should be a mouth to his brother Moseh, Exodus 4:15, 16.] and the LORD heard it.
3. But the man Moseh was very meek; [Or patient, slow to anger, tenderly affected; i.e. he bore this upbraiding patiently, wherewith his sister and brother had provoked him; as also otherwise he was of a very mild and patient disposition to bear with al men, for the injuries done to his person] more than all men that were upon earth.
4. Then the LORD spake on a sudden to Moseh, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, ye three come forth unto the Tent of the Congregation; [viz. out of your own Tents] and they three came forth.
5. Then the LORD came down [See above ch. 11. On v. 17.] in the cloud pillar, see above chapter 11. On verse 25. And stood at the door of the Tent: then he called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forth.
6. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a Prophet (among) you; I the LORD shall make my self known unto him by a vision, [See of Prophetical visions, Gen. 15. On v. 1. And 46 on v. 2.] by a dream shall I speak unto him. [of Gods appearing in a dream, see Gen. 20. On v. 3. And 28. On v. 12.]
7. Thus is not my servant Moseh: who is faithful in all my house.
8. (From) mouth to mouth do I speak with him, [i.e. by mutual presence, familiarly without interpreter or interlocation, very plainly, clearly, and by articulate voice. Comp. Jerr. 32. 4. 2 John 12. In like sence it is said, to speak with one face to face. See Exodus 33:11. And Deuteronomy 5:4. With the Annot.] and (by) beholding, [viz. not of the divine essence (which is invisible, Exodus 33:20. 23. John 1:18. And 1 Tim. 6. 16.) but some extraordinary token of his Glory. And although he likewise appeared to the rest of the Prophets divers ways, nevertheless, those wherein he appeared to Moseh, were clearer than any other, in which regard Moseh here is preferred before all other Prophets. Exodus 33:11, 20, 22, 23. And Deut. 34. V. 10] and not by dark words: and he regardeth the likeness of the LORD :[these and some of the former words are read thus by others, and (by) face, and not by dark words, or likeness of the LORD doth he see] wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moseh?
9. Then the anger of the LORD did kindle against them; and he went away.
10. And the Cloud withdraw from above the Tent; and loe Miriam was Leprous, (white) as snow: [This was not a common, and vulgarly every where known Leprosy, but a special malignant kind thereof, which reigned much Egypt, and clave to the Israelites for their sins; whereof ye may read at large, Levit. 13. And those which were smitten or visited with it, became altogether bloodless as it were, and as a wan and pale as a dead body, all the blood being corrupted and tainted, see likewise of the phrase here used, Exodus 4:6. And 2 King 5. V. 27.] and Aaron beheld Miriam, and lo, she was leprous.
11. Therefore Aaron said to Moseh, ah my Lord, lay not the sin upon us (I pray) wherewith we have done foolishly, and wherewith we have sinned.
12. Let her not be, as a dead (one) of whose flesh when he cometh forth out of his mother’s body, the moytie almost consumed: [Understand this of an untimely fruit of the womb, whose flesh cometh forth half consumed. Heb. whose motyie of his flesh is nigh consumed, in the coming forth out of his mothers body.]
13. Moseh then cried unto the LORD, saying; O Go heal her (I pray.)
14. And the LORD said to Moseh; if her father had reproachfully spit into her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? [Hebrew. spitting had spat. The meaning is; Like as a daughter, whose father from some extra ordinance miscarriage of hers, had spat in her face, deserved to be debarred of his presence for seven days at least; so, and much more doth one of Gods daughters, she having highly trespassed against him, and being therefore defiled with leprosy by him all her face over, deserved to be shut out and separated from the Camp, wherein God dwelt; that others may take warning by her] let her shut out seven days without the Camp, and after that received again. [Hebrew. gathered together again, viz. to the Camp from which she was to be separated by reason of her leprosy, Leviticus 13:46. and Numbers 5:2. and afterwards received again, being made whole, Leviticus 14:8. and so in the next verse. Compare 2 Kings 5. the Annot. on v.3.]
15. Thus Miriam was shut out without the Camp, seven days, and the people journeyed not, until Miriam was received. [Hereby the reason may be gathered, why the Israelites stayed at Hazeroth, as was said before, chapter 11.v.35.]
16. But after that the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and they camped themselves in the wilderness of Paran. [viz. in Rithma, which was in the Wilderness of Paran. See below, chapter.33.18. and of Paran it self, see Genesis.14.on v.6.]