Numbers 12:2

2 They said, "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he also spoken through us?" The Lord heard what they said

Numbers 12:2 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 12:2

And they said, hath the Lord, indeed spoken only by Moses?
&c.] They own he had spoken by him; this was so notorious that it could not be denied:

hath he not spoken also by us?
are we not prophets as well as he? the Lord spake to Aaron while he was in Egypt, and had made him a good spokesman in his name, and bore this testimony of him, that he could speak well, and Miriam is expressly called a prophetess, ( Exodus 4:14 Exodus 4:27 ) ( Exodus 15:20 ) ; and this being the case, they stomached it that they should have no concern in the choice and appointment of the seventy elders:

and the Lord heard [it];
for perhaps this was said secretly between themselves; but God, that sees, and hears, and knows all things, took notice of what was spoken by them, and resented it; for it was ultimately against himself, who had ordered Moses to do what he did.

Numbers 12:2 In-Context

1 Moses had married a Cushite woman, and Miriam and Aaron criticized him for it.

2 They said, "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he also spoken through us?" The Lord heard what they said

3 (Moses was a humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.)

4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "I want the three of you to come out to the Tent of my presence." They went,

5 and the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance of the Tent, and called out, "Aaron! Miriam!" The two of them stepped forward,

Footnotes

• [a] through; [or] to.
• [b] through; [or] to.