And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. Ver. 1. _And Miriam and Aaron spake._] She is set first, because chief in the transgression. Her discontent might arise from this, that, being a prophetess, she was no... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard [it]._ Ver. 2. _Hath the Lord spoken only by Moses._] Every man would be something at home; and many care not to raise themselves upon other men's ruins. Self-love teacheth such to turn the... [ Continue Reading ]
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.) Ver. 3. _Now the man Moses was very meek._] So free from passions, if Josephus may be believed, that he knew no such thing in his own soul; he only knew the names of such things, and saw the... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. Ver. 4. _And the Lord spake suddenly._] God takes his part ever that fights not for himself. Christ that said, "I seek not mine own glory," ad... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood [in] the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. Ver. 5. _Out of the cloud._] As from the throne of his glory.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream. Ver. 6. _In a vision._] To those awake. _ In a dream._] To those asleep: but dreams and visions do soon vanish and fly away. Job 20:8... [ Continue Reading ]
My servant Moses [is] not so, who [is] faithful in all mine house. Ver. 7. _My servant Moses is not so._] God had never so much magnified Moses to them, but for their envy. We cannot devise to pleasure God's servants so much as by despiting them. _Quisquis volens detrahit famae meae, nolens addit m... [ Continue Reading ]
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? Ver. 8. _And the similitude._] _See Trapp on "_ Exo 33:20 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. Ver. 9. _And he departed._] Yea, woe also to them when I depart from them; Hos 9:12 then all evils come in as by a sluice. The final absence of God is hell itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam [became] leprous, [white] as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, [she was] leprous. Ver. 10. _Miriam became leprous._] How escaped Aaron? for the dignity of the priesthood he was spared, saith Chrysostom. _a_ Rather he... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned._ Ver. 11. _And Aaron said unto Moses._] His late sin had choked him, as it were, - as David in like case felt his mouth stopped, Psa 51:15 - and therefore... [ Continue Reading ]
Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. Ver. 12. _As one dead._] As "free among the dead," free of that company.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. Ver. 13. _And Moses cried._] Passing by all the unkindness, he prayed earnestly for her. This was a noble kind of revenge. David was much in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in [again]. Ver. 14. _Let her be shut out._] That her sorrow for her sin may be sound and soaking, deep and do... [ Continue Reading ]
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in [again]. Ver. 15. _And the people journeyed not._] But stayed for her restoration. She had once stayed for Moses, saith Jarchi, when he was cast into the river, Exo 2:4 therefore the people sta... [ Continue Reading ]
And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. Ver. 16. _Wilderness of Paran._] At a place called Rithmah, Num 33:18 and Kadeshbarnea. Numbers 13:3 _; _ Num 13:26... [ Continue Reading ]