Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary
Numbers 12 · World English Bible
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 the LORD indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And the LORD heard it.
3Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
4The LORD spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” The three of them came out.
5The LORD 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, the LORD, 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 the LORD’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”
9The LORD’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 the LORD, saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you!”
14The LORD 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.
World English Bible · World English Bible; source eBible.org.
Notes on Numbers 12
1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Num. xii. 14.
Editorial footnote · Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus, Chapter uncertain, editorial note cite_note-56 · Original source
1892 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Numbers xii. 8
Editorial footnote · Dialogues, Chapter uncertain; original source section: The Immutable, editorial note cite_note-43 · Original source
1895 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Num. xii. 6, 7, 8.
Editorial footnote · The Hexaemeron, Chapter uncertain; original source section: Homily 1, editorial note cite_note-3 · Original source
Date uncertain | Irenaeus of Lyons (historical collection attribution)
Why was it, that when these two (Aaron and Miriam) had both acted with despite towards him (Moses), the latter alone was adjudged punishment? First, because the woman was the more culpable, since both nature and the law place the woman in a subordinate condition to the man. Or perhaps it was that Aaron was to a certain degree excusable, in consideration of his being the elder [brother], and adorned with the dignity of high priest. Then again, inasmuch as the leper was accounted by the law unclean, while at the same time the origin and foundation of the priesthood lay in Aaron, [the Lord] did not award a similar punishment to him, lest this stigma should attach itself to the entire [sacerdotal] race; but by means of his sister’s [example] He awoke his fears, and taught him the same lesson. For Miriam’s punishment affected him to such an extent, that no sooner did she experience it, than he entreated [Moses], who had been injured, that he would by his intercession do away with the affliction. And he did not neglect to do so, but at once poured forth his supplication. Upon this the Lord, who loves mankind, made him understand how He had not chastened her as a judge, but as a father; for He said, “If her father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her come in again.”
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenaeus, Chapter uncertain, source paragraph 69 · Original source