Numbers 12
Expanded Bible
Miriam and Aaron Speak Against Moses
12 Miriam [Ex. 15:20] and Aaron [C Moses’ sister and brother] began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife (he had married a Cushite [C perhaps Zipporah (Hab. 3:7), but more likely an Ethiopian]). 2 They said, “Is Moses the only one the Lord speaks through? Doesn’t he also speak through us?” And the Lord heard this.
3 (Now Moses was very ·humble [or devout]. He was the ·least proud [L most humble; or most devout] person on earth.)
4 So the Lord suddenly spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “All three of you come to the Meeting Tent.” So they went. 5 The Lord came down in a pillar of cloud [C representing his presence; Ex. 13:21] and stood at the entrance to the Tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam, and they both came near. 6 He said, “Listen to my words:
When prophets are among you,
I, the Lord, ·will show myself [make myself known] to them in visions;
I will speak to them in dreams [C indirectly].
7 But this is not true with my servant Moses.
I trust him to lead all my ·people [L house].
8 I speak face to face with him—
clearly, not with hidden meanings [C directly].
He has even seen the form of the Lord [Heb. 3:1–6].
·You should be [L Why are you not…?] afraid
to speak against my servant Moses.”
9 The Lord was very angry with them, and he left.
10 When the cloud lifted from the Tent and Aaron turned toward Miriam, she was as white as snow; she had a skin disease [C rendering her ritually unclean; Num. 5:2; Lev. 13:2]. 11 Aaron said to Moses, “Please, my ·master [lord], ·forgive us for our foolish sin [do not punish us for our foolish sin; L do not lay sin on us that we foolishly committed]. 12 Don’t let her be like a baby who is ·born dead [stillborn]. (Sometimes a baby is born with half of its flesh eaten away.)”
13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “God, please heal her!”
14 The Lord answered Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, ·she would [L would she not…?] have been shamed for seven days, so ·put her [she was shut] outside the camp for seven days. After that, she may come back.” 15 So Miriam was ·put [shut] outside of the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she came back.
16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and camped in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Paran.
Numbers 12
Revised Geneva Translation
12 Afterward, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the woman from Ethiopia whom he had married (for he had married a woman from Ethiopia).
2 And they said, “What? Has the LORD spoken only by Moses? Has He not spoken also by us?” And the LORD heard.
3 Now, Moses was a very humble man, above all the men who were upon the Earth.
4 And by and by, the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tabernacle of the Congregation.” And they three came forth.
5 Then 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 is a Prophet of the LORD among you, I will be known to him by a vision, and will speak to him by dream.
7 “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all My House.
8 “To him I will speak mouth to mouth, and by vision, and not in dark words. But he shall see the similitude of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, Moses?”
9 Thus the LORD was very angry with them and departed.
10 Also, the cloud departed from the Tabernacle. And behold, Miriam was leprous like snow. And Aaron looked at Miriam. And behold, she was leprous.
11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Alas, my lord, I beg you, do not lay the sin upon us which we have foolishly committed, and in which we have sinned.
12 “Please do not let her be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”
13 Then Moses cried to the LORD, saying, “O God, I beg You, heal her now.”
14 And the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, should she not have been ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days. And afterward she shall be received.”
15 So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days. And the people did not set out until Miriam was brought in again.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.