While
they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because
of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a
Cushite woman);1
and they said, “Has the Lord
spoken only through Moses?2
Has he not spoken through us also?”3
And the Lord
heard it.
Now the man Moses was very humble,4 more so than anyone else on the face of the earth.5
Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them came out.
Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam;6 and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words:
When there are prophets among you,
I the Lord make myself known to them in visions;
I speak to them in dreams.
Not so with my servant Moses;
he is entrusted with all my house.
With him I speak face to face—clearly, not in riddles;
and he beholds the form of the Lord.7
Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”8
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them,9 and he departed.
When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow.10 And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us11 for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb.”
And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her.”12
But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spat in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days?13 Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.”14
So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again. After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
Now the man Moses was very humble,4 more so than anyone else on the face of the earth.5
Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them came out.
Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam;6 and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words:
When there are prophets among you,
I the Lord make myself known to them in visions;
I speak to them in dreams.
Not so with my servant Moses;
he is entrusted with all my house.
With him I speak face to face—clearly, not in riddles;
and he beholds the form of the Lord.7
Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”8
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them,9 and he departed.
When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow.10 And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us11 for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb.”
And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her.”12
But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spat in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days?13 Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.”14
So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again. After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
1
From everything we've seen, this does appear to be a legitimate
gripe.
2
The complaints have reached the highest authority positions in the
camp.
3
As best I can tell, they appear to be challenging Moses's power.
4
Always funny to think about this from the perspective of the claim
that Moses wrote it.
5
This interjection is unexplained, perhaps indicating why Moses
didn't defend himself?
6
Confirming that He indeed speaks to all three.
7
Emphasizing that there is something quite special about Moses's
relationship with God.
8
Thus, they should have been afraid to say anything about him.
9
And yet again the anger of God is kindled, and yet again it is about
complaints.
10
Why just Miriam and not Aaron? Study Bible suggests that Aaron
wouldn't be able to perform his priestly duties if leprous...that
sounds like a really weak excuse.
11
Aaron pleads on her behalf and says, “do not punish us”.
12
Moses intercedes on Miriam's behalf.
13
That sounds like a horrible (and perhaps sexist) policy.
14
God only partially grants intercession. Again, why is it only
Miriam who bears this punishment?
Take-home: Like complaints against God, complaints against Moses are also worthy of punishment.
Take-home: Like complaints against God, complaints against Moses are also worthy of punishment.
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