Keraia
Numbers 12

Numbers 12:14

The Complaint of Miriam and Aaron · Numbers 12:1–16
Read Numbers 12

Translations

Modern
But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
Traditional
And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
Literal
And YHWH said to Moses, “And if her father surely had spit in her face, would not she be shamed seven days? Let her be shut seven days outside of the camp, and afterward she may be received.”
Latin
Cui respondit Dominus: Si pater ejus spuisset in faciem illius, nonne debuerat saltem septem diebus rubore suffundi? separetur septem diebus extra castra, et postea revocabitur.

Original

Hebrew
English
But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”

Notes

Numbers 12:14

Miriam had to follow the usual steps to become ceremonially pure after a skin disease (5:2–4; Leviticus 13–14).

Numbers 12:9–16

Miriam experienced the burning anger of the Lord (see study note on 12:1–2). When Aaron saw what happened to her, he confessed their sin and asked Moses to pray for them (compare 11:2). Both Moses and the Lord accepted Aaron's confession.

Numbers 12:1–16

Rebellion did not come only from the “rabble” or from the Israelites who were tired of manna (11:4). It also came from within the family of Moses.

Aaron the high priest and Miriam the prophetess spoke against Moses (Exodus 29:30; Exodus 15:20). Their actions showed that even Israel’s spiritual leaders struggled with jealousy and doubt.

At this time, Israel was moving toward a lowest point in its rebellion against God (Numbers 13:25–14:12).

Theme notes and profiles

Aaron Moses The Plagues

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Aaron Deuteronomy, Book of Disease History of Israel Miriam Numbers, Book of Pillar of Fire and Cloud Woman

Topics

Intercession: Additional Instances of for Miriam Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hazeroth: Delayed Seven Day for Miriam Judgments: Miriam Leprosy: Healed: Miriam Leprosy: Isolation of Lepers Leprosy: Law Concerning Leprosy: Power of God Manifested in Curing Leprosy: Those Afflicted With: Separated from Intercourse with Others Miracles: Catalogue of Miriam's Leprosy Prayer: Answered: Moses, on Behalf of Miriam's Leprosy Sanitation: Quarantine: Instances of Spitting in the Face, As an Indignity