Numbers 12:2

Translations

Modern

“Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.

Traditional

And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.

Literal

And they said, “Is it only indeed through Moses that YHWH has spoken? Is it not also through us that He has spoken?” And YHWH heard it.

Latin

…et dixerunt: Num per solum Moysen locutus est Dominus? nonne et nobis similiter est locutus? Quod cum audisset Dominus

Original

Hebrew

English

“Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.

Notes

Numbers 12:2

Challenging the authority of Moses meant rejecting the Lord's choice of him as Israel's leader.
the LORD heard this: The same phrase in 11:1 hints at the Lord's response.

Numbers 12:1–2

Miriam and Aaron may have seen the marriage of Moses as a threat to their status and goals. The verses list Miriam first, suggesting she started this family conflict. This could explain why God punished her and not Aaron (12:9–10).

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

Related verses

Ezekiel 35:12–13
Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard every contemptuous word you uttered against the mountains of Israel when you said, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to devour!’
Numbers 16:3
They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Micah 6:4
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.
Isaiah 37:4
Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.”
Philippians 2:14
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
2 Kings 19:4
Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.”
Numbers 11:1
Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.
2 Samuel 11:27
And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.
1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Numbers 11:29
But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!”

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Aaron Deuteronomy, Book of Disease Hazeroth History of Israel Kings, Books of First and Second Miriam Moses Numbers, Book of Pillar of Fire and Cloud Woman

Topics

Ambition: Aaron and Miriam Ambition: Miriam and Aaron Christian Minister: Aaron Citizens: Wicked: Miriam and Aaron Envy: Aaron Envy: Miriam and Aaron, of Moses Forgiveness: Moses Forgives the Israelites Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Hazeroth: Aaron and Miriam Envy Moses Judgments: Miriam Leprosy: Sent As a Judgment On: Miriam Murmuring: Aaron Sin: Known to God The First Born: Superseded: Aaron Treason of Aaron and Miriam Against Moses

Numbers 12:2

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