Numbers 12:11-16

11 He said to Moses, "Please, my master, please don't come down so hard on us for this foolish and thoughtless sin.

12 Please don't make her like a stillborn baby coming out of its mother's womb with half its body decomposed."

13 And Moses prayed to God: Please, God, heal her, please heal her.

14 God answered Moses, "If her father had spat in her face, wouldn't she be ostracized for seven days? Quarantine her outside the camp for seven days. Then she can be readmitted to the camp."

15 So Miriam was in quarantine outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't march on until she was readmitted.

16 Only then did the people march from Hazeroth and set up camp 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.