Chapter 12

1 God rebuketh the sedition of Miriam and Aaron. 10 Miriam’s leprosy is healed at the prayer of Moses. 14 God commandeth her to be shut out of the host.

1. Miriam and Aaron. Miriam’s name is given first, since she was the leader in the murmuring.

Spake. The verb is feminine, singular number, pointing to Miriam as the instigator. “She spake.”

Ethiopian woman. Literally, a “Cushite woman” (see on Gen. 10:6). Zipporah’s father was actually a Midianite (Ex. 2:16–19; 3:1), and thus a descendant of Abraham (Gen. 25:1, 2 PP 383). Upon rejoining Moses at Mt. Sinai (see on Ex. 4:25 and 18:2), Zipporah had observed the heavy burdens borne by her husband and expressed to Jethro her fears for his well-being. Thereupon Jethro counseled Moses to select others to share the responsibilities of administration with him. When Moses acted upon this counsel without first consulting Miriam and Aaron, they became jealous of him and blamed Zipporah for what they considered Moses’ neglect of them (see PP 383). The fact that Zipporah was a Midianite, though a worshiper of the true God, was used by Miriam and Aaron merely as an excuse for rebelling against the authority of Moses. He did not violate the principle of nonmarriage with the heathen when he took her to wife, as they apparently claimed.

2. Spoken only by Moses. The brother and sister here claim equality with Moses, ignoring the fact that God had placed him in a unique position of authority (see Ex. 4:10–16; Deut. 34:10).

The Lord heard. He hears all complaints against His servants (see Num. 11:1; 2 Kings 19:4; Mal. 3:16).

3. Meek. From a root meaning “humble,” “submissive,” “lowly.” The same word is rendered variously, as “poor” (Job 24:4), “humble” (Ps. 9:12), and “lowly” (Prov. 3:34; 16:19). The trait of character here described as meekness is essential to leadership in the cause of God. Moses was not naturally meek (Ex. 2:11–14); that trait came to him as the result of 40 years spent in the hard school of the wilderness of Midian. Only a meek man knows how to be submissive to God and to his subordinates and at the same time be a courageous and dynamic leader. There is no place in the work of the Lord for a leader who conceives it to be his privilege to domineer over his fellow workers and dictate to them.

6. In a vision. God has ever revealed His will to His servants the prophets through visions and dreams, and promises to continue doing so (Joel 2:28; Amos 3:7). On the basis of Joel 2:28 it has been suggested that “visions” are generally accorded to younger men and women, and “dreams” to those who are older. An “open vision” (1 Sam. 3:1) is a physically exhausting ordeal (see Dan. 10:8–11, 16–19). Various of the prophets speak of experiences similar to that of Daniel. Inspired dreams seem to draw far less on the physical resources of the individual to whom they are accorded.

7. My servant Moses. Similarly described in Ex. 14:31; Deut. 34:5. The term is also used of others (Gen. 26:24; Job 1:8). Compare the reference to these words in Heb. 3:5.

Mine house. Here refers to the people of God (see Heb. 3:2, 5).

8. Mouth to mouth. That is, directly, with no intermediary. This expression is similar to “face to face” in Ex. 33:11; Deut. 34:10.

Dark speeches. Sometimes translated “riddles” (Eze. 17:2).

The similitude of the Lord. Not the actual being of God but some visible form that a man could see and appreciate. The word here rendered “similitude” is sometimes translated “likeness” (Deut. 4:15, 16, 23, 25; Ps. 17:15; Isa. 40:18; cf. John 1:18 and 1 Tim. 6:16).

Speak against my servant. The fundamental mistake of Miriam was one of disrespect for, and rebellion against, lawfully constituted authority—in this case, appointed by God Himself. Errors in judgment upon the part of God’s leaders today provide no excuse for withholding fromthem one’s loyal support. In spite of the fact that Saul sought his life, David remained loyal, in word and in deed, to him as king, saying, “The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 6:11). Though condemning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Christ commanded His disciples to cooperate with them as the appointed leaders of the nation (Matt. 23:3). When a person is tempted to inquire concerning some leader in the church, “What shall this man do?” the Lord replies today as He did to Peter, “What is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:21, 22, Paul’s counsel is explicit. “Dearly beloved,” he says, “avenge not yourselves” (Rom. 12:19), and then quotes Scripture, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Every true disciple of the Master today will be loyal to those in authority in the church, even when it may seem that they have erred in judgment (1 Tim. 5:1; Titus 3:1).

10. Leprous, white as snow. Compare with Ex. 4:6; 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chron. 26:19–21. Aaron received no physical punishment. Evidently the whole outcry was worked up by Miriam, who now received her just deserts.

11. Lay not the sin. In Zech. 14:19 the same Hebrew word is translated “punishment,” since it refers to both sin and its punishment.

12. As one dead. That is, condemned to die. She was shut away from others like a criminal.

14. Spit in her face. Among Eastern peoples spittle is supposed to have both evil and good effects (see Deut. 25:9; Job 30:10; Mark 7:33; 8:23). Among certain people even today spittle is supposed to be the means of transferring superhuman powers.

After that. The words of v. 14, that Miriam might return a week from the time leprosy struck her, imply that she was healed immediately (see v. 13), and began the ritual of purification immediately (see Lev. 13:4).

Ellen G. White comments

1-16PP 383-386

1, 2 PP 383

3     CE 43; FE 508; MB 29; PP 251, 384; 3T 297, 341; 4T 368

5, 7-16PP 385

8     PP 396