New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Numbers 12
1
Miriam and Aaron began to say bad things about Moses. That's because Moses had married a woman from Cush.
Reference
2
"Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" The Lord heard what they said.
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 12:10
1 Peter 5:5
Philippians 2:3
References Lord
Numbers 16:3
Isaiah 37:4
2 Kings 19:4
Numbers 11:1
Numbers 11:29
2 Samuel 11:27
References Moses
Micah 6:4
3
Moses wasn't very proud at all. In fact, he had less pride than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Reference
4
The Lord spoke to Moses, Aaron and Miriam. He said, "All three of you, come out to the Tent of Meeting." So they did.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 76:9
5
Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud. He stood at the entrance to the tent. And he told Aaron and Miriam to come to him. Both of them stepped forward.
Reference
6
Then the Lord said, "Listen to my words. "Suppose one of my prophets is among you. I make myself known to him in visions. I speak to him in dreams.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 46:2
Luke 1:22
Daniel 10:8
Ezekiel 1:1
Acts 10:11
Daniel 8:2
Psalm 89:19
References Lord
1 Kings 3:5
Luke 1:11
Matthew 1:20
7
But that is not true of my servant Moses. He is faithful in everything he does in my house.
Reference
8
With Moses I speak face to face. I speak with him clearly. I do not speak in riddles. I let him see something of what I look like. So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
Reference
Darkness
1 Corinthians 13:12
Parallel theme
Exodus 33:23
2 Peter 2:10
1 Timothy 6:16
Luke 10:16
Isaiah 46:5
References Lord
Deuteronomy 34:10
Exodus 33:11
John 15:15
2 Corinthians 3:18
9
The anger of the Lord burned against them. And he left them.
10
When the cloud went up from above the tent, there stood Miriam. She had a disease that made her skin as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her. He saw that she had a skin disease.
Reference
11
So he said to Moses, "We have committed a very foolish sin. Please don't hold it against us.
Reference
12
Don't let Miriam be like a baby that was born dead. Don't let her look like a dead baby whose body is half eaten away."
14
The Lord answered Moses. He said, "Suppose her father had spit in her face. Then she would have been put to shame for seven days. So keep her outside the camp for seven days. After that, you can bring her back."
Reference
15
So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't move on until she was brought back.
Reference
Chapter Summary
Numbers, chapter 12 describes the problems that arose in Moses’ own family. Miriam and Aaron are critical of Moses because of his Cushite wife, but their criticism is quickly revealed to be deeper than that. They question whether God speaks only through Moses, and claim that they too have a claim to be leaders and prophets in Israel. God defends Moses, explaining to Miriam and Aaron the special relationship that he has with Moses, and as a punishment Miriam is struck with leprosy. Moses prays for Miriam to be healed, and having spent a week away from the camp, she is returned to the fold and Israel moves on.
The chapter opens with Miriam and Aaron speaking critically of Moses because of the Cushite woman he has taken as his wife. Not much is known of this woman, and it seems that the problem with her is the catalyst for a more serious issue, namely the criticism of Moses’ position as prophet of God. They ask “Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” and challenge Moses’ superiority among the prophets of Israel.
God hears their murmuring, and this is an important point since Miriam and Aaron are not just any Israelites. Aaron is the high priest, and Miriam is a prophetess; the two held esteemed positions among the people of Israel. It is not their place to challenge the words of Moses, the man God has chosen to lead Israel.
Verse 3 says that Moses was meek, above all men upon the face of the earth. Moses does not stand up and defend himself, but God intervenes.
The Lord calls Moses and Aaron and Miriam to the tabernacle. After they come before him, the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood at the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam to him.
God said he had spoken to the prophets in vision and in dream, but Moses was different. He was faithful in all his house and spoke with him face to face and not in dark sayings.
Then God rebuked Aaron and Miriam for speaking against Moses. He told them that he had chosen Moses to be his prophet and that his words were not as the words of a prophet who speaks in riddles. It was clear that Moses was the chosen prophet of Israel. It was not just the position of Miriam and Aaron as leaders of Israel that was the problem, but their words against Moses were an affront to God himself.
The anger of the Lord is kindled against them and the cloud departs from over the tabernacle. Looking at his sister Miriam, Aaron sees that she is struck with leprosy, her skin as white as snow. The punishment falls on Miriam, but Aaron knows immediately that their words have been a blasphemy against Moses.
Seeing the punishment that has befallen his sister, Aaron turns to Moses in haste, begging him not to hold a grudge against Miriam for what they have said. He calls their offense foolish and speaks to Moses humbly, asking him to intercede with God on Miriam’s behalf.
Moses makes a simple prayer to God, saying “Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” Moses does not seek vengeance against Miriam even for what she has said against him. The rebuke has been a punishment from God, and Moses prays that the punishment may be light as Miriam has been afflicted with something that makes her unclean.
God answers Moses’ prayer, but tells him that Miriam must stay outside the camp for seven days. God also says that if their father had rejected a daughter, she would have been rejected for seven days, and Miriam’s punishment is no different. After seven days, she may return, and the people of Israel wait for her during this time.
After the seven days have passed, Israel moves on from Hazeroth and comes to camp in the wilderness of Paran. Numbers 12 is a short chapter, but it raises a number of issues. Chief among them is the idea of jealousy, for Miriam and Aaron are both in esteemed positions in Israel, yet they question the words of Moses as if they themselves would be worthy of being heard by God.
They do ask a legitimate question, for the Lord has indeed spoken to them, but they speak against Moses, one of the most holy men Israel has ever known. Another theme that runs through this chapter is the difference between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. The three had different roles to play in Israel, and God himself draws the distinction.
Yet another theme that comes through the passage clearly is the mercy of Moses. He does not resent Miriam after her punishment, and even prays to God that her sickness be healed. Miriam has spoken against him, but it has not been enough to turn Moses’ heart against his sister.
Perhaps the most important part of this chapter is the reminder that even the holiest men are still men. Miriam and Aaron are both righteous, but they are held accountable for the wrongs they do, spoken and unspoken. Moses is chosen by God to lead Israel, but being chosen does not make him untouchable. The punishment that befalls Miriam is a lesson to Aaron as well, and the people of Israel must be reminded of their sins.
The seven-day exile of Miriam is also a reminder of the importance of ritual purity to the people of Israel. Miriam could not simply return after being healed; she and Moses had to wait until the full seven days were up.
Numbers 12 serves more as a setup for what is to come than a self-contained story. Israel is about to enter Canaan and the next chapter will tell of how they send spies to reconnoiter the land, but Numbers 12 shows us the internal workings of the Israelite camp. Miriam and Aaron are jealous of Moses, questioning the words God has given him. God defends Moses and the words of Miriam are punished. Moses prays for his sister, and after seven days she is healed and Israel moves on from there.
The events of the short chapter are simple, but they are important. They serve as a caution to us all that our words can cut as easily as a sword. Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses, speaking against him to his face. God defends Moses and Aaron is immediately shown to be unworthy as high priest. Leprosy falls upon Miriam, and Moses prays for her healing. These events serve to remind Israel of the consequences of their sins and of the mercy that can be found in the heart of Moses.
The chapter opens with Miriam and Aaron speaking critically of Moses because of the Cushite woman he has taken as his wife. Not much is known of this woman, and it seems that the problem with her is the catalyst for a more serious issue, namely the criticism of Moses’ position as prophet of God. They ask “Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” and challenge Moses’ superiority among the prophets of Israel.
God hears their murmuring, and this is an important point since Miriam and Aaron are not just any Israelites. Aaron is the high priest, and Miriam is a prophetess; the two held esteemed positions among the people of Israel. It is not their place to challenge the words of Moses, the man God has chosen to lead Israel.
Verse 3 says that Moses was meek, above all men upon the face of the earth. Moses does not stand up and defend himself, but God intervenes.
The Lord calls Moses and Aaron and Miriam to the tabernacle. After they come before him, the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood at the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam to him.
God said he had spoken to the prophets in vision and in dream, but Moses was different. He was faithful in all his house and spoke with him face to face and not in dark sayings.
Then God rebuked Aaron and Miriam for speaking against Moses. He told them that he had chosen Moses to be his prophet and that his words were not as the words of a prophet who speaks in riddles. It was clear that Moses was the chosen prophet of Israel. It was not just the position of Miriam and Aaron as leaders of Israel that was the problem, but their words against Moses were an affront to God himself.
The anger of the Lord is kindled against them and the cloud departs from over the tabernacle. Looking at his sister Miriam, Aaron sees that she is struck with leprosy, her skin as white as snow. The punishment falls on Miriam, but Aaron knows immediately that their words have been a blasphemy against Moses.
Seeing the punishment that has befallen his sister, Aaron turns to Moses in haste, begging him not to hold a grudge against Miriam for what they have said. He calls their offense foolish and speaks to Moses humbly, asking him to intercede with God on Miriam’s behalf.
Moses makes a simple prayer to God, saying “Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” Moses does not seek vengeance against Miriam even for what she has said against him. The rebuke has been a punishment from God, and Moses prays that the punishment may be light as Miriam has been afflicted with something that makes her unclean.
God answers Moses’ prayer, but tells him that Miriam must stay outside the camp for seven days. God also says that if their father had rejected a daughter, she would have been rejected for seven days, and Miriam’s punishment is no different. After seven days, she may return, and the people of Israel wait for her during this time.
After the seven days have passed, Israel moves on from Hazeroth and comes to camp in the wilderness of Paran. Numbers 12 is a short chapter, but it raises a number of issues. Chief among them is the idea of jealousy, for Miriam and Aaron are both in esteemed positions in Israel, yet they question the words of Moses as if they themselves would be worthy of being heard by God.
They do ask a legitimate question, for the Lord has indeed spoken to them, but they speak against Moses, one of the most holy men Israel has ever known. Another theme that runs through this chapter is the difference between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. The three had different roles to play in Israel, and God himself draws the distinction.
Yet another theme that comes through the passage clearly is the mercy of Moses. He does not resent Miriam after her punishment, and even prays to God that her sickness be healed. Miriam has spoken against him, but it has not been enough to turn Moses’ heart against his sister.
Perhaps the most important part of this chapter is the reminder that even the holiest men are still men. Miriam and Aaron are both righteous, but they are held accountable for the wrongs they do, spoken and unspoken. Moses is chosen by God to lead Israel, but being chosen does not make him untouchable. The punishment that befalls Miriam is a lesson to Aaron as well, and the people of Israel must be reminded of their sins.
The seven-day exile of Miriam is also a reminder of the importance of ritual purity to the people of Israel. Miriam could not simply return after being healed; she and Moses had to wait until the full seven days were up.
Numbers 12 serves more as a setup for what is to come than a self-contained story. Israel is about to enter Canaan and the next chapter will tell of how they send spies to reconnoiter the land, but Numbers 12 shows us the internal workings of the Israelite camp. Miriam and Aaron are jealous of Moses, questioning the words God has given him. God defends Moses and the words of Miriam are punished. Moses prays for his sister, and after seven days she is healed and Israel moves on from there.
The events of the short chapter are simple, but they are important. They serve as a caution to us all that our words can cut as easily as a sword. Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses, speaking against him to his face. God defends Moses and Aaron is immediately shown to be unworthy as high priest. Leprosy falls upon Miriam, and Moses prays for her healing. These events serve to remind Israel of the consequences of their sins and of the mercy that can be found in the heart of Moses.