Num 12:1-2 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XII Miriam and Aaron raise a sedition against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman he had married , 1, and through jealousy of his increasing power and authority , 2. The character of Moses , 3. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam are suddenly called to the tabernacle , 4. The Lord appears in the pillar of the cloud, and converses with them , 5. Declares his purpose to communicate his will to Moses only , 6-8. His anger is kindled against Miriam, and she is smitten with the leprosy , 9, 10. Aaron deplores his transgression, and entreats for Miriam , 11,12. Moses intercedes for her , 13. The Lord requires that she be shut out of the camp for seven days , 14. The people rest till she is restored , 15, and afterwards leave Hazeroth, and pitch in the wilderness of Paran, 16. NOTES ON CHAP. XII Verse 1. 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- haishshah haccushith -THAT WOMAN, the Cushite , probably meaning Zipporah , who was an Arab born in the land of Midian -was the ostensible cause.

‏ Numbers 12:1-2

CHAPTER XII

Miriam and Aaron raise a sedition against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman he had married, 1,

and through jealousy of his increasing power and authority, 2.

The character of Moses, 3.

Moses, Aaron, and Miriam are suddenly called to the tabernacle, 4.

The Lord appears in the pillar of the cloud, and converses with them, 5.

Declares his purpose to communicate his will to Moses only, 6-8.

His anger is kindled against Miriam, and she is smitten with the leprosy, 9, 10.

Aaron deplores his transgression, and entreats for Miriam, 11,12.

Moses intercedes for her, 13.

The Lord requires that she be shut out of the camp for seven

days, 14.

The people rest till she is restored, 15,

and afterwards leave Hazeroth, and pitch in the wilderness of

Paran, 16.

NOTES ON CHAP. XII

Verse 1. 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- haishshah haccushith-THAT WOMAN, the Cushite, probably meaning Zipporah, who was an Arab born in the land of Midian-was the ostensible cause.

Verse 2. 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 Ex 4:15, and Ex 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 honour 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 honour, pleasure, and profit to the lust of power.