Numbers 12:1-8

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because 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 through Moses? ¹Has he not spoken through us also?" And ²the LORD heard it.

3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

4 And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out.

5 And ³the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

6 And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him ⁴in a vision; I speak with him ⁵in a dream.

7 Not so with ⁶my servant Moses. ⁷He is faithful in all my house.

8 With him I speak ⁸mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in ⁹riddles, and he beholds ¹⁰the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

Numbers 12:1-8 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. Micah 6:4
• 2. Numbers 11:1; 2 Kings 19:4; Isaiah 37:4; Ezekiel 35:12, 13; [Malachi 3:16]
• 3. Numbers 11:25; Numbers 16:19
• 4. Genesis 46:2; Ezekiel 1:1; Daniel 8:2; Daniel 10:8, 16; Luke 1:11, 22; Acts 10:11; Acts 22:17, 18
• 5. Genesis 20:6; Genesis 31:10, 11; 1 Kings 3:5; Job 33:15; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 27:19
• 6. Psalms 105:26
• 7. Hebrews 3:2, 5
• 8. Numbers 7:89; [Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 34:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12]
• 9. Psalms 49:4; Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6
• 10. [Exodus 33:20, 23]