> [[numbers-11|← Previous]] | [[numbers-00|TOC]] | [[numbers-13|Next →]] --- # Numbers, Chapter 12 ## Chapter 12 **Jealousy of Aaron and Miriam.** 1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext of the Cushite woman he had married; for he had in fact married a Cushite woman. ^numbers-12-1 2 They complained, “Is it through Moses alone that the LORD has spoken? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard this. ^numbers-12-2 3 Now the man Moses was very humble, more than anyone else on earth. ^numbers-12-3 4 So at once the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam: Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting. And the three of them went. ^numbers-12-4 5 Then the LORD came down in a column of cloud, and standing at the entrance of the tent, called, “Aaron and Miriam.” When both came forward, ^numbers-12-5 6 the LORD said: Now listen to my words: ^numbers-12-6 If there are prophets among you, in visions I reveal myself to them, in dreams I speak to them; 7 Not so with my servant Moses! ^numbers-12-7 Throughout my house he is worthy of trust: 8 face to face I speak to him, ^numbers-12-8 plainly and not in riddles. The likeness of the LORD he beholds. Why, then, do you not fear to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And so the LORD’s wrath flared against them, and he departed. ^numbers-12-9 **Miriam’s Punishment.** 10 Now the cloud withdrew from the tent, and there was Miriam, stricken with a scaly infection, white as snow! When Aaron turned toward Miriam and saw her stricken with snow-white scales, ^numbers-12-10 11 he said to Moses, “Ah, my lord! Please do not charge us with the sin that we have foolishly committed! ^numbers-12-11 12 Do not let her be like the stillborn baby that comes forth from its mother’s womb with its flesh half consumed.” ^numbers-12-12 13 Then Moses cried to the LORD, “Please, not this! Please, heal her!” ^numbers-12-13 14 But the LORD answered Moses: Suppose her father had spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; afterwards she may be brought back. ^numbers-12-14 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not start out again until she was brought back. ^numbers-12-15 16 After that the people set out from Hazeroth and encamped in the wilderness of Paran. ^numbers-12-16 \* (12:1) Cushite woman: apparently Zipporah, the Midianite, is meant; cf. ([[exodus-02|Ex 2]]:21]. \* (12:2) The apparent reason for Miriam’s and Aaron’s quarrel with their brother Moses was jealousy of his authority; his Cushite wife served only as an occasion for the dispute. \* (12:7) Worthy of trust: the text is open to a variety of interpretations. Thus, the word of Moses may be relied upon by Israel because God speaks to him directly; or, Moses alone is worthy of God’s trust in God’s household (heavenly or earthly). An alternative translation, however, is: “with all my house he is entrusted.” \* (12:10) Stricken with a scaly infection, white as snow: see note on [Lv 13:1] – [14:47]. The point of the simile lies either in the flakiness or the whiteness of snow. a. (12:3) [Sir 45:1] – [2]. b. (12:7) [Heb 3:2], [5]. c. (12:8) [Ex 33:1]; [Dt 34:10]; [Sir 45:3]. d. (12:10) [Dt 24:9]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[numbers-11|← Previous]] | [[numbers-00|TOC]] | [[numbers-13|Next →]]