7 My servant H5650 Moses H4872 is not so, who is faithful H539 in all mine house. H1004
Who was G5607 faithful G4103 to him that appointed G4160 him, G846 as G5613 also G2532 Moses G3475 was faithful in G1722 all G3650 his G846 house. G3624 For G1063 this G3778 man was counted worthy G515 of more G4119 glory G1391 than G3844 Moses, G3475 inasmuch as G2596 G3745 he who hath builded G2680 the house G3624 hath more G4119 honour G5092 than G2192 the house. G846 For G1063 every G3956 house G3624 is builded G2680 by G5259 some G5100 man; but G1161 he that built G2680 all things G3956 is God. G2316 And G2532 Moses G3475 verily G3303 was faithful G4103 in G1722 all G3650 his G846 house, G3624 as G5613 a servant, G2324 for G1519 a testimony G3142 of those things which were to be spoken after; G2980 But G1161 Christ G5547 as G5613 a son G5207 over G1909 his own G846 house; G3624 whose G3739 house G3624 are G2070 we, G2249 if G1437 G4007 we hold fast G2722 the confidence G3954 and G2532 the rejoicing G2745 of the hope G1680 firm G949 unto G3360 the end. G5056
For G1063 Moses G3475 truly G3303 said G2036 unto G4314 the fathers, G3962 G3754 A prophet G4396 shall G450 the Lord G2962 your G5216 God G2316 raise up G450 unto you G5213 of G1537 your G5216 brethren, G80 like G5613 unto me; G1691 him G846 shall ye hear G191 in G2596 all things G3956 whatsoever G3745 G302 he shall say G2980 unto G4314 you. G5209 And G1161 it shall come to pass, G2071 that every G3956 soul, G5590 which G3748 G302 will G191 not G3361 hear G191 that G1565 prophet, G4396 shall be destroyed G1842 from among G1537 the people. G2992
To G4314 whom G3739 coming, G4334 as unto a living G2198 stone, G3037 disallowed G593 indeed G3303 of G5259 men, G444 but G1161 chosen G1588 of G3844 God, G2316 and precious, G1784 Ye G846 also, G2532 as G5613 lively G2198 stones, G3037 are built up G3618 a spiritual G4152 house, G3624 an holy G40 priesthood, G2406 to offer up G399 spiritual G4152 sacrifices, G2378 acceptable G2144 to God G2316 by G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 12
Commentary on Numbers 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
Nu 12:1-9. Miriam's and Aaron's Sedition.
1. an Ethiopian woman—Hebrew, "a Cushite woman"—Arabia was usually called in Scripture the land of Cush, its inhabitants being descendants of that son of Ham (see on Ex 2:15) and being accounted generally a vile and contemptible race (see on Am 9:7). The occasion of this seditious outbreak on the part of Miriam and Aaron against Moses was the great change made in the government by the adoption of the seventy rulers [Nu 11:16]. Their irritating disparagement of his wife (who, in all probability, was Zipporah [Ex 2:21], and not a second wife he had recently married) arose from jealousy of the relatives, through whose influence the innovation had been first made (Ex 18:13-26), while they were overlooked or neglected. Miriam is mentioned before Aaron as being the chief instigator and leader of the sedition.
2. Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not also spoken by us?—The prophetical name and character was bestowed upon Aaron (Ex 4:15, 16) and Miriam (Ex 15:20); and, therefore, they considered the conduct of Moses, in exercising an exclusive authority in this matter, as an encroachment on their rights (Mic 6:4).
3. the man Moses was very meek—(Ex 14:13; 32:12, 13; Nu 14:13; 21:7; De 9:18). This observation might have been made to account for Moses taking no notice of their angry reproaches and for God's interposing so speedily for the vindication of His servant's cause. The circumstance of Moses recording an eulogium on a distinguishing excellence of his own character is not without a parallel among the sacred writers, when forced to it by the insolence and contempt of opponents (2Co 11:5; 12:11, 12). But it is not improbable that, as this verse appears to be a parenthesis, it may have been inserted as a gloss by Ezra or some later prophet. Others, instead of "very meek," suggest "very afflicted," as the proper rendering.
4. the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam—The divine interposition was made thus openly and immediately, in order to suppress the sedition and prevent its spreading among the people.
5. the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood the door of the tabernacle—without gaining admission, as was the usual privilege of Aaron, though it was denied to all other men and women. This public exclusion was designed to be a token of the divine displeasure.
6, 7. Hear now my words—A difference of degree is here distinctly expressed in the gifts and authority even of divinely commissioned prophets. Moses, having been set over all God's house, (that is, His church and people), was consequently invested with supremacy over Miriam and Aaron also and privileged beyond all others by direct and clear manifestations of the presence and will of God.
8. with him will I speak mouth to mouth—immediately, not by an interpreter, nor by visionary symbols presented to his fancy.
apparently—plainly and surely.
not in dark speeches—parables or similitudes.
the similitude of the Lord shall he behold—not the face or essence of God, who is invisible (Ex 33:20; Col 1:15; Joh 1:18); but some unmistakable evidence of His glorious presence (Ex 33:2; 34:5). The latter clause should have been conjoined with the preceding one, thus: "not in dark speeches, and in a figure shall he behold the Lord." The slight change in the punctuation removes all appearance of contradiction to De 4:15.
Nu 12:10-16. Miriam's Leprosy.
10. the cloud departed from the tabernacle—that is, from the door to resume its permanent position over the mercy seat.
Miriam became leprous—This malady in its most malignant form (Ex 4:6; 2Ki 5:27) as its color, combined with its sudden appearance, proved, was inflicted as a divine judgment; and she was made the victim, either because of her extreme violence or because the leprosy on Aaron would have interrupted or dishonored the holy service.
11-13. On the humble and penitential submission of Aaron, Moses interceded for both the offenders, especially for Miriam, who was restored; not, however, till she had been made, by her exclusion, a public example [Nu 12:14, 15].
14. her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?—The Jews, in common with all people in the East, seem to have had an intense abhorrence of spitting, and for a parent to express his displeasure by doing so on the person of one of his children, or even on the ground in his presence, separated that child as unclean from society for seven days.
15. the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again—Either not to crush her by a sentence of overwhelming severity or not to expose her, being a prophetess, to popular contempt.
16. pitched in the wilderness of Paran—The station of encampments seems to have been Rithma (Nu 33:19).