0 SAB Numbers 12

Numbers

CHAPTER 12

Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses
12:1-8

1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

Miriam and Aaron (Moses's sister and brother) criticize Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. [1]

2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

They said,
Has God only spoken to Moses? Hasn't he also spoken to us?

And God heard it.

3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Now Moses was very meek. He was the meekest man on earth. [2]

4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

God spoke suddenly to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, saying,
Come out, all three of you, to the tabernacle.

And they came out.

5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

God came down in a cloud-like pillar, stood at the door of the tabernacle, and called to Aaron and Miriam.

They both came out.

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

God said to them,

Hear my words.

If there is a prophet among you, I, God, will make myself known to him in a vision and speak to him in a dream. [3]

But not with my servant, Moses. With him, I speak mouth to mouth. Not in dark speeches. He sees me as I am. [4]

Why weren't you afraid to speak against him?

God strikes Miriam with leprosy
12:9-16

9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

God was angry with Miriam and Aaron, and he departed.

10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

The cloud departed from the tabernacle, and Miriam became leprous. [5]

11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Aaron said to Moses,
Don't punish us for our foolish sin.

12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

Don't make Miriam like a dead person, whose flesh is half consumed like a newborn baby.

13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

Moses cried to God, saying,

Please God, heal her now. [6]

14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.

God said to Moses,

If her father had spit in her face, shouldn't she be ashamed for seven days? [7]

Expel her from the camp for seven days.

15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

And Miriam was expelled from the camp for seven days.
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