Numbers 12
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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 ( Exodus 33:20 , Colossians 1:15 , John 1:18 ); but some unmistakable evidence of His glorious presence ( Exodus 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 Deuteronomy 4:15 .
Numbers 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 ( Exodus 4:6 , 2 Kings 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 [ Numbers 12:14 Numbers 12:15 ].
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 ( Numbers 33:19 ).