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| 1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, on account of the Cushite woman whom he had taken,–for, a Cushite woman, had he taken. |
Miriam – Typifying those who fail to recognize Christ as the leader of spiritual Israel and who fail to honor those whom he uses as his mouthpieces and servants. R4037:5
Her jealousy-poisoned mind began to see evidences that the Lord had forsaken Moses. R5308:2
And Aaron – Busy-bodying in other men's matters. R3061:4
A weak character; as shown on this occasion and when he made the golden calf. R5308:3
Spake against Moses – While both participated in the sin, Miriam was the leading spirit. R5308:1
An Ethiopian woman – A Negress. R3042:6
The start of the matter was a question of family pride. R5308:1
The Lord could have hindered the marriage. He probably favored it so the Jews would not choose Moses' children as his successors; they were supposed to look to the Lord as their leader. R3061:4
Of an alien race, she replaced Miriam as first lady, arousing Miriam's jealousy on religious grounds. R5308:1
Zipporah, typifying the Bride of Christ. R1651:6
Perhaps Moses' first wife had died, and Zipporah was his second wife. R5308:1
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| 2 And they said: Is it, only, and solely, with Moses, that Yahweh hath spoken? With us also, hath he not spoken? And Yahweh heard it. |
They said – Miriam began to spread her seditious suggestions throughout the camp of Israel. R5308:3
Also by us – Miriam had been recognized by the Lord as a prophetess and Aaron had been used as the mouthpiece of Moses. R5308:2
The LORD heard it – The Lord is not inattentive to his own business. R5308:3
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| 3 Now, the man Moses, was patient, exceedingly,–above all the sons of earth, who were on the face of the ground. |
Was very meek – Thus a suitable type of the meek and lowly Nazarene and of the members of his Body. R1651:3
If Moses had been proud and arrogant he would have been unfit for the duties and responsibilities which devolved upon him as the leader of his people out of Egypt to the borders of Canaan. R5252:1
Meekness was a marked characteristic of all the prophets and Ancient Worthies. R1921:1
Yet it was this same Moses who was hindered from entering the promised land as a punishment for spiritual pride. R5957:3, R4047:4, R3866:4
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| 4 Then said Yahweh, suddenly, unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out, ye three, unto the tent of meeting. And they three went out. |
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| 5 Then Yahweh came down, in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent,–and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both went forth. |
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| 6 Then said he, Hear, I beseech you, my words. When ye have your prophet, As Yahweh, in a vision, will I make myself known, unto him; In a dream, will I speak with him. |
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| 7 Not so, my servant Moses,–In all my house, trusty, is he: |
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| 8 Mouth to mouth, do I speak with him, And plainly–not in dark sayings, And, the form of Yahweh, doth he discern,–Wherefore, then, were ye not afraid to speak against my servant–against Moses? |
Mouth to mouth – Not through dreams and visions, but in plain language. R5308:4
Similitude of the LORD – Moses was granted a closer approach to the divine presence; it may be that our Lord Jesus, as Michael, especially represented the Father with Moses. R4055:2
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| 9 And the anger of Yahweh kindled upon them, and he departed. |
Anger of the LORD – Typifying God's indignation against those who fail to recognize him as leader of spiritual Israel and fail to honor those whom he uses as his mouthpieces and servants. R4037:5
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| 10 And, when, the cloud, removed from off the tent,–lo! Miriam, leprous, like snow! And Aaron turned unto Miriam, and lo! . . . leprous! |
She was leprous – Aaron realized that he had assisted and upheld his sister in a sinful course. R5308:4
Such prompt dealing with sin will be the regular order under the Messianic Kingdom. R5308:6
Leprosy: typifying sin. R5308:5
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| 11 Then said Aaron unto Moses,–Oh my lord, do not, I beseech thee, lay upon us sin, although we have made ourselves foolish, and although we have sinned. |
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| 12 Let her not, I beseech thee, remain like the still-born,–which, when it is born of its mother, the half of its flesh is consumed. |
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| 13 Then Moses made outcry unto Yahweh, saying,–O GOD, I beseech thee, grant healing, I beseech thee, unto her. |
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| 14 And Yahweh said unto Moses: If, her own father, had, but spat, in her face, would she not have acknowledged the shame for seven days? Let her shut herself up for seven days, outside the camp, and, afterwards, let her be received back. |
Seven days – Type of a full and complete period of tests as respects a putting away of sin. R5308:5
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| 15 So Miriam shut herself up, outside the camp, for seven days,–and, the people, set not forward, until Miriam had been received back. |
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| 16 Then, afterwards, did the people set forward from Hazeroth, and encamped in the desert of Paran. |
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