The Bible — World English Bible
Numbers 12
In brief
In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron speak against their brother Moses, first about his wife, then they challenge his place: has the Lord not spoken through them too? God summons them and declares that Moses is his faithful servant, with whom he speaks face to face. Miriam is struck with a skin disease, Aaron admits the wrong, and Moses prays for his sister. After seven days outside the camp, she is brought back and the people set out again. The chapter is about jealousy, humility and forgiveness.
The chapter in 4 parts
1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.
2They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And Yahweh heard it.
3Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
4Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” The three of them came out.
5Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward.
6He said, “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream.
7My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
8With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”
9Yahweh’s anger burned against them; and he departed.
10The cloud departed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
11Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned.
12Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”
13Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you!”
14Yahweh said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.”
15Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again.
16Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.
Key verses
They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And Yahweh heard it.
Behind the pretext of Moses' marriage, the real question is jealousy: why him and not us? The text specifies that the Lord heard it, which shows that God takes words seriously.
Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
The narrator describes Moses as a very humble man. He does not defend himself, he lets God act. This meekness is not weakness: it is a trust that gives up justifying oneself.
My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”
God distinguishes the ministry of Moses from that of ordinary prophets. Moses is faithful in all God's house, and God speaks to him plainly, not in riddles. The letter to the Hebrews will take up this faithfulness of Moses.
Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you!”
After his sister's attack, Moses has only one short prayer: that she be healed. He chooses intercession over revenge.
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Frequently asked questions about Numbers 12
Why do Miriam and Aaron criticize Moses in Numbers 12?
The text first mentions the woman Moses had married, but verse 2 shows the root of it: they want to share his role and ask whether God does not speak through them as well. Many see jealousy in it, a theme the text does not hide.
What does Numbers 12:3 mean?
The verse says that Moses was very humble, more than anyone else on the face of the earth. This meekness does not mean a lack of character: Moses stood up to Pharaoh. It shows in his reaction: he does not defend himself and lets God plead his cause.
Why is Miriam struck and not Aaron?
The text does not explain it. Miriam is named first in verse 1, which suggests that she led the criticism, and Aaron then admits their fault before Moses. Commentators offer ideas, but we cannot go beyond what the account says.
Articles quoting Numbers 12
World English Bible translation — public domain.