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| 1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. |
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, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD 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 very meek, above all the men which 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 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. |
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| 8 With 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? |
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 the LORD was kindled against 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 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. |
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 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.
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| 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. |
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| 13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. |
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| 14 And 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. |
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 out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. |
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| 16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. |
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