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| 1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had taken; for he had taken a Cushite as wife. |
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, Has Jehovah indeed spoken only to Moses? has he not spoken also to us? And Jehovah 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 But the man Moses was very meek, above all men that were upon the face of the earth. |
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 Jehovah spoke suddenly to Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting. And they went out, they three. |
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| 5 And Jehovah came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth. |
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| 6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make myself known to him in a vision, I will speak to him in a dream. |
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| 7 Not so my servant Moses: he is faithful in all my house. |
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| 8 Mouth to mouth do I speak to him openly, and not in riddles; and the form of Jehovah doth he behold. Why 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 Jehovah was kindled against them, and he went away; |
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 the cloud departed from off the tent. And behold, Miriam was leprous as snow; and Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was 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 Aaron said to Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not this sin upon us, wherein we have been foolish, and have sinned! |
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| 12 Let her not be as one stillborn, half of whose flesh is consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb. |
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| 13 And Moses cried to Jehovah, saying, O *God, heal her, I beseech thee! |
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| 14 And Jehovah said to Moses, But had her father anyways spat in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? She shall be shut outside the camp seven days, and afterwards she shall be received in again2. |
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 And Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days; and the people did not journey till Miriam was received in again2. |
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| 16 And afterwards the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran. |
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