Numbers 12

Numbers 12:1

MIriam and Aaron] A sister, a brother; a Prophetesse, and a Priest, against their brother, a Prophet and chiefe Magistrate; What relations and endowments can secure a man from offensive exceptions?

Ethiopian woman] Or, Cushite. There was an Easterne Ethiopia, so was Arabia called; in that was Madian (the countrey of Moses his wife) or bordering so neere upon it, as to borrow the name of it; but in latter times the westerne Ethiopia (which is beyond Egypt) is onely called by that name. The offence, it is like, was most betwixt the women, and (as is probably thought) Zipporah as Moses his wife, because of the honour of her husband, tooke too much upon her, and gave too little respect to Miriam, who looked for much, because she was a Prophetesse.

Numbers 12:3

very meeke] And so bare with their murmurings, although he knew them; Moses was so modest, that he would not thus have praised himselfe, but that the Spirit overruled his minde, and guided his hand unto it; so that it is not so much Moses his commendation of himselfe, as the Spirits commendation of Moses.

Numbers 12:6

Vision] Visions and dreames were the means whereby God, in those times, did oft reveale himselfe unto his Prophets: visions were revelations to such as were awake; dreames to those that were asleepe: See Annot. on Genesis 15:1.

Numbers 12:7

in all mine house] That is, in all Israel, which was Gods Church; or in all the offices and acts of a good man and a just Steward, faithfully and fully discharging the trust reposed in him.

Numbers 12:8

moneth to moneth] That is, more familiarly and frequently then by visions; and more clearely, and assuredly, then by dreames; and as by way of friendly, and constant conference, whereby full information may be given, and received, rather then in visions and dreames, which were transient.

similitude] So farre as any man was able to apprehend; which he calleth his back-parts: See Annot. on Exodus 33:23.

Numbers 12:9

departed] Removing the cloud the signe of his presence; but not forward, as by way of conduct; but upward, over the Tabernacle, where it usually did hang.

Numbers 12:10

Tabernacle] From the doore, or entrance into the Tabernacle, whither the cloud came downe when the Lord spake to them.

leprous] Miriam, and not Aaron, is leprous, because she was first in the fault, and (it may be) also a mover of Aaron to it; or more passionate and peremptory in her reproofes of him, or reproaches against him, then Aaron was.

Numbers 12:12

as one dead] As excluded from the society of men and women, by the law of separation of lepers, Leviticus 13:46. and so in respect of societie, as dead and out of the world.

halfe consumed] As a childe halfe consumed by the corruption and rottennesse in his flesh, is a very loathsome thing to looke upon, when he is new borne, so is a leper.

Numbers 12:14

spit in her face] In his displeasure; the face is the table of beauty or comelinesse, and when it is spit upon, it is made the seate of shame; and if spitting on the face be cause of shame, see Isaiah 50:6. and separation, much more if the heavenly Father cast contempt upon his undutifull daughter, and defile her face with such a filthy disease as leprosie, must she be ashamed to be seene, and so shut out of the society of Israel.

Numbers 12:15

brought in againe] Which was done without the ceremoniall expiations prescribed in the case of leprosie, Levit. 14. because her cure was as miraculous as her disease; and therewithall her restoring to societie, as authentique as her separation from it.

Numbers 12:16

in the wildernesse of Paran] To which they passed from the wildernesse of Sinai. There is a mountaine called Paran, and that mountaine, and the plaine under it, might be called Paran, as by a more especiall name: but this part of Paran, the place of their pitching, was by an especiall title called Rithmah, Numbers 33:18. Of Paran, see Annot. on Chap. 10. vers. 12.