Números 12

ARC · Chapter 12/36

1E fallaram Miriam e Aarão contra Moysés, por causa da mulher cushita, que tomara: porquanto tinha tomado a mulher cushita.

2E disseram: Porventura fallou o Senhor sómente por Moysés? não fallou tambem por nós? E o Senhor o ouviu.

3E era o homem Moysés mui manso, mais de que todos os homens que havia sobre a terra.

4E logo o Senhor disse a Moysés, e a Aarão, e a Miriam: Vós tres sahi á tenda da congregação. E sairam elles tres.

5Então o Senhor desceu na columna da nuvem, e se poz á porta da tenda: depois chamou a Aarão e a Miriam, e elles sairam ambos.

6E disse: Ouvi agora as minhas palavras; se entre vós houver propheta, Eu, o Senhor, em visão a elle me farei conhecer, ou em sonhos fallarei com elle.

7Não é assim com o meu servo Moysés que é fiel em toda a minha casa.

8Bocca a bocca fallo com elle, e de vista, e não por figuras; pois elle vê a similhança do Senhor: porque pois não tivestes temor de fallar contra o meu servo, contra Moysés?

9Assim a ira do Senhor contra elles se accendeu; e foi-se.

10E a nuvem se desviou de sobre a tenda; e eis que Miriam era leprosa como a neve: e olhou Aarão para Miriam, e eis qua era leprosa.

11Pelo que Aarão disse a Moysés: Ah senhor meu, ora não ponhas sobre nós este peccado, que fizemos loucamente, e com que havemos peccado.

12Ora não seja ella como um morto, que saindo do ventre de sua mãe, a metade da sua carne já está consumida.

13Clamou pois Moysés ao Senhor, dizendo: O' Deus, rogo-te que a cures.

14E disse o Senhor a Moysés: Se seu pae cuspira em seu rosto, não seria envergonhada sete dias? esteja fechada sete dias fóra do arraial, e depois a recolham.

15Assim Miriam esteve fechada fóra do arraial sete dias, e o povo não partiu, até que recolheram a Miriam.

16Porém depois o povo partiu de Hazeroth; e assentaram o arraial no deserto de Paran.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses over his Cushite wife and question his exclusive authority as God's spokesman. God intervenes directly, affirms Moses' unique position, and temporarily punishes Miriam with leprosy.

Explanation

This brief but intense episode shows that even close, respected leaders (Miriam was a prophetess, Aaron the high priest) are not exempt from jealousy and pride, and that criticism disguised as religious concern (Moses' marriage) actually concealed a struggle for power and recognition. God's response is firm and clear: Moses had a unique relationship, 'face to face,' unlike that of any other prophet. It is notable that only Miriam, not Aaron, suffers the visible punishment of leprosy — possibly because she led the rebellion, or because Aaron, as high priest, had specific protections tied to his role. Moses' immediate intercession for his sister, despite being the one wronged, models a generous forgiveness even in the face of personal attacks.

Fun facts

  • The identity of Moses' 'Cushite wife' is debated: it may refer to Zipporah (already mentioned as a Midianite) using a broader term for African descent, or to a second marriage not detailed elsewhere in the Bible.
  • Verse 3 ('Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth') is considered by many scholars to be an editorial comment inserted later, since it would seem strange for Moses himself to write this about himself — one of the few points where scholars debate Moses' direct authorship of the text.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Números 12:1Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses over the Ethiopian woman he had married, probably a woman from the region of Cush, but behind this seems to lie a dispute over authority: they also question whether Moses is the only one who can speak for God. It is a leadership conflict within the family itself, not simply a personal matter about the marriage.
  2. Números 12:2Miriam and Aaron’s criticism comes with a telling question: has the Lord spoken only through Moses, and not also through them? And God hears that very provocation.
  3. Números 12:3The text makes a comment about Moses himself: he was the meekest and humblest man on the face of the earth — perhaps explaining why he does not answer the accusation on his own.
  4. Números 12:4God intervenes directly: He calls Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to come out at once to the tent of the congregation, and the three obey.
  5. Números 12:5The Lord comes down in a pillar of cloud and stands at the entrance of the tent, calling Aaron and Miriam to come forward.
  6. Números 12:6God begins by explaining how He normally communicates with ordinary prophets: through visions and dreams.
  7. Números 12:7But with Moses it is different, God says: he is faithful in the administration of the whole people, a uniquely trusted position.
  8. Números 12:8God speaks with Moses face to face, plainly, not in riddles, and so He asks Miriam and Aaron why they were not afraid to speak against someone with that kind of closeness to Him.
  9. Números 12:9The Lord’s anger flares up against the two of them, and He withdraws after making His rebuke clear.
  10. Números 12:10After God’s rebuke, only Miriam is struck with a skin disease, not Aaron, even though both had taken part in the criticism — something scholars still debate, without a single explanation in the text. Aaron intercedes for her right after, and she must stay seven days outside the camp before being accepted back, the same period given to anyone unclean.
  11. Números 12:11Aaron apologizes to Moses, admitting that the two of them acted foolishly and sinned by criticizing him that way.
  12. Números 12:12He describes his sister’s condition with a strong image, comparing her leprosy-stricken flesh to someone already half-dead at birth.
  13. Números 12:13Moses, even though he was the target of the criticism, cries out to God asking for Miriam’s healing.
  14. Números 12:14God answers with an analogy: if her own father had spit in her face, that alone would be cause for shame for seven days — so she should stay outside the camp for that same period before returning.
  15. Números 12:15Miriam is indeed kept isolated outside the camp for seven days, and the whole people wait, not continuing the journey, until she is brought back.
  16. Números 12:16Only after that does the people resume the journey, setting out from Hazeroth and pitching the next camp in the wilderness of Paran.

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