Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Numbers-Chapter 12

Num 12.1-16 tells us that not only did the people complain against Moses, but so did members of his own family, Miriam and Aaron.

v 1…Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses (Miriam is mentioned first because she was first in this transgression) because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman (Josephus tells us in Antiquities, Book 2, Chapter 10, that Moses conquered Ethiopia, also called Cush, and was given a princess to marry, and her name was Tharbis. She fell in love with Moses because of his bravery and skill; some believe this is a reference to Zipporah who was from Midian, also called “Cushan” in Hab 3.7);

v 2…and they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us as well (MIriam is called a prophetess in Exo 4.14)?” And the Lord heard it (Moses ignores them and took no notice of their grumblings nor bore a resentment, but the Lord will defend him).

v 3…Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth (“humble basically means Moses “knew his place” and he he knew his gifts, talents and limitations, and his achievements came from God; Moses even records his own faults in Exo 4.10; Num 20.12; Deut 1.37 for example; people should have two pieces of paper on them. On one it should be written, “The world was made for me.” On the other it should be written, “I came from dust and ashes.” The trick in life is to know when to take out which piece of paper. Moses knew).

v 4…And suddenly (without delay and not giving Moses any time to intercede for them) the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.” So all three of them came out (this was going to be a private meeting).

v 5…Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud (symbolizing his presence) and stood at the doorway of the tent, and he called Aaron and MIriam (Moses was left behind). When they had both come forward (Aaron and Miriam were trying to take God’s place. Ever have someone else interfere with your children? This is what happens when we speak against a fellow believer. We are trying to take God’s place. God is not done with anyone yet so we must try and be patient with others and not interfere with what God may be trying to do with them).

v 6…He said, “Hear now my words; if there is a prophet among you, I the Lord (Yehovah) shall make myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream (there are many ways God speaks to man; he speaks with a “Bat Kol” or an audible voice, through dreams, or visions like trances, picture flashes on the mind, circumstances, the Scriptures, messengers, prophecies, a still, small voice and dark speech (midrashic aggadot or parables, puns and word play, through a glass dimly).

v 7…Not so, with my servant Moses, he is faithful in all my household (Israel),

v 8…with him I speak mouth to mouth (face to face-Deut 34.10, even openly and not in dark sayings (it was clear and simple, leaving no room for doubt). And he beholds the form of the Lord (something similar to, a resemblance, but not his essential full nature which no man can see; like at the burning bush or the “back parts” as in Exo 33.17-23). Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses (Moses had a higher kedusha so how could they speak against him)?”

v 9…So the anger of the Lord burned against them and he departed (like a judge).

v 10…But when the cloud had withdrawn over the tent, behold (see), Miriam was leprous (a Metzora; she had tzara’at), aas white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous (this meant death because she had to be put out of the safety of the camp. They tried to put “leprosy” and “unclean” things on Moses and his wife with their mouth, and make them feel unclean and out of place, and that is what we do when we gossip. The question has been asked, “Why only Miriam?” She was most guilty, and Aaron was the functioning high priest and may not have been as deep into this sin as Miriam. He was the one who would pronounce her unclean after he repented and interceded for her).

v 11…Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not count this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned.

v 12…Oh do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb (like a still-born)!”

v 13…And Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Oh God, heal her, I pray!”

v 14…But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit (and continued to spit) in her face (covering her face and showing his contempt), would she not bear her shame for seven days (hide herself; not appear before the family or her father’s presence; her heavenly father did spit in her face and covered her with tzara’at/leprosy)? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp (Lev 13.4-5; Leprosy, like spit, was from his mouth), and afterward, she may be received again.

v 15…So MIriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until MIriam was received again (it is interesting to note that the cloud did not move; this also may have been done in courteous respect for Miriam when she waited for her brother to see what would happen to him in Exo 2.4; we know from Mic 6.4 that God sent as “shaliachim” Moses as the lawgiver, Aaron as high priest, and Miriam as a prophet; she was considered as a “tzaddik” or a righteous one).

v 16…Afterward, however, the people moved out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran (the wilderness of this life is a test and we should keep moving because God has promised us the best of the land we will not stay in the wilderness. Accept the responsibilities God has given us and be humble. Put our ego in the background and pursue the goal God has given us. It is not about personal accomplishments. We should move when God moves, but don’t complain and gossip).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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