Bible Commentaries
Numbers 12

Verse 1

Miriam. Named first to show she was first in the rebellion. See Numbers 12:10 . Compare Genesis 3:3 .

Ethiopian = Zipporah. Hebrew. Cushite. Arabia was in the land of Cush: or Zipporah (Exodus 2:21 ) may have been of Cushite nationality, though territorially a Midianite.

Verse 2

Hath . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 3

man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

very meek = patient. First occurrence. Hebrew. 'anah = to endure with submission what might be evaded: in contrast with Hebrew. 'ani = to bear what cannot be avoided.

men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 4

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. See App-40 .

Verse 5

door = entrance.

Verse 6

He: i.e. Jehovah.

said. See note on Numbers 3:40 .

If there be = should there be; i.e. when ye have your prophet.

make Myself known. This also essential to a prophet. Compare Numbers 11:29 .

Verse 7

My servant Moses. First occurrence. Occurs six times. See Numbers 12:7 , Numbers 12:8 . Joshua 1:2 , Joshua 1:7 ; 2 Kings 21:8 . Mai. Numbers 4:4 .

not so: i.e. much greater. Compare Numbers 12:8 .

who is faithful. Compare Hebrews 3:2 , or, Faithful is he, &c.

Verse 8

mouth to mouth. Compare Genesis 45:12 . 2 John 1:12 , 3 John 1:14 . See also Exodus 33:11 .Deuteronomy 34:10 . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

apparently = plainly.

not, &c. = Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .

similitude: i.e. likeness or image. This must be understood in harmony with Exodus 33:20 , Exodus 33:23 . Compare Deuteronomy 4:12 , Deuteronomy 4:15 . Joh 1:18 . 1 Timothy 6:16 . Compare Colossians 1:15 .

against, &c. Hebrew "against my servant, against Moses. "Compare idiom in Genesis 21:10 and note.

Verse 9

kindled: with instant result.

He: i.e. Jehovah.

Verse 10

leprous. See note on Exodus 4:6 .

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . = "there she was leprous! "abruptness of language reveals the excitement produced.

Verse 11

sin . . . sinned. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

Verse 12

dead = stillborn.

the flesh. The Primitive Text lead "our flesh". This is one of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim (see App-33 ), to avoid what was supposed to he derogatory to Aaron.

his mother's. The Primitive Text read "our mother's" (see above note): thus it is made impersonal.

Verse 13

GOD = El. = God, the mighty God. See App-4 .

spit in her face = treat with contempt: so the idiom is used in Syriac and Arabic to-day. Hebrew "had spitted a spitting. "Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Compare Job 30:10 .

seven days. Compare Leviticus 13:4 , Leviticus 13:5 , Leviticus 13:21 , Leviticus 13:26 .

received in. Homonym 'asaph (1) to heal or recover, here, 2 Kings 5:6 . Psalms 27:10 ; (2) to snatch away or destroy, Psalms 26:9 . Jeremiah 16:5 .

Verse 15

brought = received, Numbers 12:14 .