121 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because e of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman ); 2 and they said , "Has the Lord indeed spoken only e through Moses ? Has He not spoken through us as well ?" And the Lord heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble , more than any man who was on the face of the earth .)
4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam , "You three come out to the tent of meeting ." So the three of them came out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent , and He called Aaron and Miriam . When they had both come forward , 6 He said , "Hear now My words : If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord , shall make Myself known to him in a vision . I shall speak with him in a dream . 7 "Not so , with My servant Moses , He is faithful in all My household ; 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth , Even openly , and not in dark sayings , And he beholds the form of the Lord . Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant , against Moses ?" 9 So the anger of the Lord burned against them and He departed .
10 But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent , behold , Miriam was leprous , as white as snow . As Aaron turned toward Miriam , behold , she was leprous . 11 Then Aaron said to Moses , "Oh , my lord , I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned . 12 "Oh , do not let her be like one dead , whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother's womb !" 13 Moses cried out to the Lord , saying , "O God , heal her, I pray !" 14 But the Lord said to Moses , "If her father had but spit in her face , would she not bear her shame for seven days ? Let her be shut up for seven days outside e the camp , and afterward she may be received again." 15 So Miriam was shut up outside e the camp for seven days , and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again. 16 Afterward , however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 12:1-54
Commentary on Numbers 12:1-9
(Read Numbers 12:1-9)
The patience of Moses was tried in his own family, as well as by the people. The pretence was, that he had married a foreign wife; but probably their pride was hurt, and their envy stirred up, by his superior authority. Opposition from our near relations, and from religious friends, is most painful. But this is to be looked for, and it will be well if in such circumstances we can preserve the gentleness and meekness of Moses. Moses was thus fitted to the work he was called to. God not only cleared Moses, but praised him. Moses had the spirit of prophecy in a way which set him far above all other prophets; yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he; and our Lord Jesus infinitely excels him, 2 Peter 2:10. The removal of God's presence is the surest and saddest token of God's displeasure. Woe to us, if he depart! he never departs, till by sin and folly we drive him from us.
Commentary on Numbers 12:10-16
(Read Numbers 12:10-16)
The cloud departed, and Miriam became leprous. When God goes, evil comes: expect no good when God departs. Her foul tongue, as Bishop Hall says, was justly punished with a foul face. Aaron, as priest, was judge of the leprosy. He could not pronounce her leprous without trembling, knowing himself to be equally guilty. But if she was thus punished for speaking against Moses, what will become of those who sin against Christ? Aaron, who joined his sister in speaking against Moses, is forced for himself and his sister, to beseech him, and to speak highly of him whom he had so lately blamed. Those who trample upon the saints and servants of God, will one day be glad to make court to them. It is well when rebukes produce confession of sin and repentance. Such offenders, though corrected and disgraced, shall be pardoned. Moses made it appear, that he forgave the injury done him. To this pattern of Moses, and that of our Saviour, who said, "Father, forgive them," we must conform. A reason is given for Miriam's being put out of the camp for seven days; because thus she ought to accept the punishment of her sin. When under the tokens of God's displeasure for sin, it becomes us to take shame to ourselves. This hindered the people's progress in their march forward towards Canaan. Many things oppose us, but nothing so hinders us in the way to heaven, as sin.