Numbers 12:2-10

2 “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this.

3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

4 At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out.

5 Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward,

6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.

7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.

8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

9 The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.

10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous^[a] —it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease,

Numbers 12:2-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBER 12

In this chapter we have an account of Aaron and Miriam speaking against Moses, and for what reason, whose amiable character is given, Nu 12:1-3; 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, Nu 12:4-9; 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, Nu 12:10-13; 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, Nu 12:14-16.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 16:3
• 2. S Numbers 11:1
• 3. Matthew 11:29
• 4. S Exodus 13:21; S Numbers 11:25
• 5. 1 Samuel 3:7,21
• 6. S Genesis 15:1; Genesis 46:2
• 7. S Genesis 20:3; Genesis 31:10; 1 Kings 3:5; S Matthew 27:19; Hebrews 1:1
• 8. Deuteronomy 34:5; Joshua 1:1-2; Psalms 105:26
• 9. Hebrews 3:2,5
• 10. Deuteronomy 34:10; Judges 14:12; 1 Kings 10:1; Psalms 49:4; Proverbs 1:6; Daniel 5:12
• 11. Exodus 20:4; Job 19:26; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 140:13; Isaiah 6:1
• 12. Exodus 24:2
• 13. S Exodus 4:14
• 14. S Genesis 17:22
• 15. Exodus 40:2
• 16. S Exodus 4:6; Deuteronomy 24:9
• 17. S Leviticus 13:11; 2 Kings 5:1,27; 2 Chronicles 16:12; 2 Chronicles 21:12-15; 2 Chronicles 26:19

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew for "leprous" was used for various diseases affecting the skin.