Numbers Chapter 12

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

1 Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses for the Nubian woman he’d married. 2 “Has the LORD indeed only spoken through you? Hasn’t he spoken through us too?” The LORD heard it. ( 3 Moses was the most humble man in the world.) 4 At once, the LORD told Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out to the Tent of Meeting.” 5 He came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent to call Aaron and Miriam. When they’d come forward, 6 he said,

                        “Listen to what I’m saying:

                        if there’s a prophet among you,

                              I’ll show myself to him in a vision

                              or speak to him in a dream.

                        7 Not so with Moses;

                              he’s faithful in my house.

                        8 I speak to him directly, clearly,

                              not in dark sayings;

                              he sees my form.

                        Why then weren’t you afraid

                              to criticize him?”                                                                                

Num 12:1-8

            9 The LORD’s anger burned against them, and he left. 10 When the cloud withdrew from over the Tent, Miriam had leprosy as white as snow. When Aaron turned and saw it, 11 he told Moses, “Don’t hold that foolish sin against us. 12 Don’t leave her like somebody dead, with flesh half eaten away at birth.”

            13 Moses cried out to the LORD, “God, heal her!”

            14 The LORD said,

“If her father had only spit in her face, wouldn’t she have borne her disgrace for a week? Quarantine her outside the camp for a week. Then she can come back.”

15 So they did; the people didn’t move on till she returned. 16 Then they moved out from Hazeroth to the Wilderness of Paran.                                                                                             

Num 12:9-16

From the CNT translation by Virgil Warren, PhD