Miriam and Aaron are jealous of Zipporah and Jethro
The Lord sent leprosy to Miriam
|
|
|
| .1
¶ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian
woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. |
Miriam
Normally Aaron would have been mentioned first. Here Miriam had started
the accusations. When and how Moses used names in writing is significant.
See Ex. 3:1 linked below. Also ge1204f.
Ethiopian woman Literally, "Cushite woman." Her father was a Midianite ex0216ff, ex0301, thus a descendant of Abraham ge2501f. So what did Moses' dark-skinned wife have to do with claiming the prophetic office along with Moses? He had followed the counsel of her father and they no doubt felt that their political status challenged. See ex18, esp ex1819. |
| .3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) | Meek Or "humble" ps00912. Herding sheep was a much more peaceful job! Ex. 3:1, linked above. |
| 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.
.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. |
..- |
| .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.
.7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. .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? 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. |
6 -
If
there be a prophet The Lord here tells us something about prophets.
Note that He chooses them. They do not inherit the prophetic office, nor
are they appointed.
8 - Speak against my servant This was the sin. We need to be careful. Many today are false prophets (although not using that term). We must fear to speak against one who speaks for God unless we have examined their ministry and found it to be bearing evil fruit mt0715ff. |
| .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.
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. 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. 13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. |
10 - Cloud departed It either disappeared or raised up. |
| .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.
.15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. |
15
- Miriam ... shut out Do you think she was still proud? Has the
Lord, in mercy, sent experiences to you that have helped you understand
the principle of humility?
15 - Journeyed not till The pillar of cloud and fire would have begun to lead the way. |
|
|
|
|
|
|