Bibelkommentare

Miriam and Aaron raise a sedition against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman he had married, Numbers 12:1, and through jealousy of his increasing power and authority, Numbers 12:2. The character of Moses, Numbers 12:3. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam are suddenly called to the tabernacle, Numbers 12:4. The Lord appears in the pillar of the cloud, and converses with them, Numbers 12:5. Declares his purpose to communicate his will to Moses only, Numbers 12:6-8. His anger is kindled against Miriam, and she is smitten with the leprosy, Numbers 12:9, Numbers 12:10. Aaron deplores his transgression, and entreats for Miriam, Numbers 12:11, Numbers 12:12. Moses intercedes for her, Numbers 12:13. The Lord requires that she be shut out of the camp for seven days, Numbers 12:14. The people rest till she is restored, Numbers 12:15, and afterwards leave Hazeroth, and pitch in the wilderness of Paran, Numbers 12:16.

Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses - It appears that jealousy of the power and influence of Moses was the real cause of their complaint though his having married an Ethiopian woman-האשה הכשית haishshah haccushith - That Woman, the Cushite, probably meaning Zipporah, who was an Arab born in the land of Midian - was the ostensible cause.

Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? - It is certain that both Aaron and Miriam had received a portion of the prophetic spirit, (see Exodus 4:15, and Exodus 15:20), and therefore they thought they might have a share in the government; for though there was no kind of gain attached to this government, and no honor but such as came from God, yet the love of power is natural to the human mind; and in many instances men will sacrifice even honor, pleasure, and profit to the lust of power.

Now the man Moses was very meek - How could Moses, who certainly was as humble and modest as he was meek, write this encomium upon himself? I think the word is not rightly understood; ענו anav, which we translate meek, comes from ענה anah, to act upon, to humble, depress, afflict, and is translated so in many places in the Old Testament; and in this sense it should be understood here: "Now this man Moses was depressed or afflicted more than any man האדמה haadamah, of that land." And why was he so? Because of the great burden he had to bear in the care and government of this people, and because of their ingratitude and rebellion both against God and himself: of this depression and affliction, see the fullest proof in the preceding chapter, Numbers 11 (note). The very power they envied was oppressive to its possessor, and was more than either of their shoulders could sustain.

And the Lord spake suddenly - The sudden interference of God in this business shows at once the importance of the case and his displeasure.

If there be a prophet - We see here the different ways in which God usually made himself known to the prophets, viz., by visions - emblematic appearances, and by dreams, in which the future was announced by dark speeches, בחידת bechidoth, by enigmas or figurative representations, Numbers 12:8. But to Moses God had communicated himself in a different way - he spoke to him face to face, apparently, showing him his glory: not in dark or enigmatical speeches; this could not be admitted in the case in which Moses was engaged, for he was to receive laws by Divine inspiration, the precepts and expressions of which must all be ad captum vulgi, within the reach of the meanest capacity. As Moses, therefore, was chosen of God to be the lawgiver, so was he chosen to see these laws duly enforced for the benefit of the people among whom he presided.

Moses - is faithful - נאמן neeman, a prefect or superintendent. So Samuel is termed, 1 Samuel 2:35; 1 Samuel 3:20; David is so called, 1 Samuel 18:27, Neeman, and son-in-law of the king. Job 12:20, speaks of the Neemanim as a name of dignity. It seems also to have been a title of respect given to ambassadors, Proverbs 13:17; Proverbs 25:13. Calmet well observes that the word fidelity is often used for an employ, office, or dignity, and refers to 1 Chronicles 9:22, 1 Chronicles 9:26, 1 Chronicles 9:31; 2 Chronicles 31:12, 2 Chronicles 31:15; 2 Chronicles 34:12, etc. Moses was a faithful, well-tried servant in the house of God, and therefore he uses him as a familiar, and puts confidence in him.

Miriam became leprous - It is likely Miriam was chief in this mutiny; and it is probable that it was on this ground she is mentioned first, (see Numbers 12:1), and punished here, while Aaron is spared. Had he been smitten with the leprosy, his sacred character must have greatly suffered, and perhaps the priesthood itself have fallen into contempt. How many priests and preachers who deserved to be exposed to reproach and infamy, have been spared for the sake of the holy character they bore, that the ministry might not be blamed! But the just God will visit their transgressions in some other way, if they do not deeply deplore them and find mercy through Christ. Nothing tends to discredit the work of God so much as the transgressions and miscarriages of those who minister in holy things.