Numbers 12:11-16

11 he cried out to Moses, “Oh, my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed.

12 Don’t let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.”

13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!”

14 But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn’t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back.”

15 So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again.

16 Then they left Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 12:11-16 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.