Números 12
Thomas Constable · Citado em PreceptAustin
Números 12
Constable - The Cushite woman Moses had married was probably not Zipporah (Exod. 2:21). Zipporah was from Midian that was in Arabia. At this time Cush was a name for Upper Egypt (Ethiopia). "...the Septuagint and the Vulgate translate ‘Cushite’ in Numbers 12:1 as ‘Ethiopian,’ the word used by the Greeks and Romans to refer to the region south of Egypt inhabited by people with black skin.” NET NOTE on the Cushite woman - It may be that Miriam was envious of the Cushite woman Moses married. And, in view of the previous chapter’s content about others being given a portion of the Spirit to share in the leadership role, she may have seen this as her chance finally to become just as important in the nation as her younger brother. After all, she safeguarded his birth and early years (Exod 2:4-6+). But there are two issues here—the reason she gives (“does the LORD only speak through Moses?”), and the reason the text gives (the Cushite woman). The Hebrew text has הַכֻּשִׁית (hakkushit, “the Cushite”) as the modifier of “woman.” The Greek text interpreted this correctly as “Ethiopian.” The word Cush in the Bible can describe the Cassites, east of Babylon of the later period (Gen 10:18), or Ethiopia (Isa 20:3; Nah 3:5; et al). Another suggestion is that it would refer to Cushan of Hab 3:7, perhaps close to Midian, and so the area Moses had been. This would suggest it could be Zipporah—but the Bible does not identify the Cushite as Zipporah. The most natural understanding would be that it refers to an Egyptian/Ethiopian woman. The text does not say when Moses married this woman, or what Miriam’s problem with her was. It is clear that it was a racial issue, by virtue of the use of “Cushite.” Whether she was of darker skin than the Hebrews would be hard to say, since the Bible gives no further detail. Neither does it say if this is a second wife, or a woman Moses married since Zipporah went home (Exod 18:2). These do not seem to be the issues the text wishes to elaborate on; it is simply stating that this woman was the occasion for a deeper challenge. Henry
Números 12
Constable - The Lord punished Miriam for her dissatisfaction with her divinely appointed role in the nation. THOUGHT- Are you satisfied with the spiritual gift God has given you? Are you content with the role the Spirit has placed you in the Body of Christ? As white as snow - What an ironic phrase for here is a picture of Miriam's sin but the same phrase is used in Isaiah 1:18 where God declares to faithless Israel "Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool." Sailhamer has an interesting observation - “In the present narrative, the sign of Moses’ leadership was Miriam’s ‘leprosy, which was white as snow’ (Nu 12:10). Similarly, one of the first signs given to vindicate God’s election of Moses as leader of his people was the sign of ‘leprosy, white as snow’ (Ex 4:6). In the initial narratives dealing with the work of Moses, Moses himself doubted his calling and consequently became a leper. Here, however, it is Miriam who doubts and thus becomes a leper. We should also note that the other sign given to vindicate the role of Moses in the earlier narrative was the serpent that came from Moses’ rod (Ex 4:3). So also here, when Moses’ authority is further questioned by the people at the end of their time in the wilderness (Nu 21:5), God responds by sending serpents against them (21:6).” As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous - This is an unusual passage, for it has two uses of behold, as if the Spirit is saying to all of us "Look carefully and think twice before you touch the LORD'S anointed!" (Read Ps 105:15+) Behold (02009) hinneh is an interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. "It is used often and expresses strong feelings, surprise, hope, expectation, certainty, thus giving vividness depending on its surrounding context." NET Note - The word “leprosy” and “leprous” covers a wide variety of skin diseases, and need not be limited to the actual disease of leprosy known today as Hansen’s disease. The description of it here has to do with snow, either the whiteness or the wetness. If that is the case then there would be open wounds and sores—like Job’s illness (see M. Noth, Numbers [OTL], 95–96). Wenham - Though ‘leprosy’ is the traditional translation of the Hebrew root ṣāraʿ, it is inaccurate. True leprosy (Hansen’s disease) did not reach the Middle East until New Testament times at the earliest. Nor does true leprosy spontaneously disappear, as the various complaints listed in Leviticus 13–14 may do. Rather, biblical leprosy is a patchy, scaly skin complaint, such as psoriasis or severe eczema. It may be that the flaking, peeling scales associated with such complaints prompts the comparison with snow and a still-born infant. (Ibid) Henry
Números 12
Constable - Ironically Aaron had wanted to be like Moses, but instead of being able to intercede directly with God as Moses did, Aaron had to appeal to Moses who interceded with God. I beg you, do not account this sin to us - He is appealing to Moses, presumably for forgiveness. Philip - “Aaron, on seeing the judgment of leprosy come upon his sister, beseeches Moses for mercy. There is surely in his prayer an implicit recognition of the different kind of authority that Moses had. Indeed, he is acknowledging that Moses possessed a power in intercession with God that he himself could not exercise, hence his appeal to his brother.” (Preacher's Commentary) How often people turn for help to the very ones they have criticized! -- Brian Bell in which we have acted foolishly - Aaron's commentary on sin is that it is foolish! O that this truth were embedded irrevocably in our hearts and minds. Amen. Aaron was the interceding high priest for Israel and yet he needed an intercessor! -- Warren Wiersbe THOUGHT - Aaron asked that he and Miriam not be punished for their sin. It is easy to look back at our mistakes and recognize their foolishness. It is much harder to recognize foolish plans while we are carrying them out because somehow then they seem appropriate. To get rid of foolish ideas before they turn into foolish actions requires eliminating our wrong thoughts and motives. Failing to do this caused Miriam and Aaron much grief. (LASB) ED: I would add we all do well to remember the craftiness of sin - we think of sin as something inanimate and largely that is correct. However, sin has life in the spiritual realm which is determined (Ge 4:7 = "crouching" like a wild animal ready to pounce on its victim who fails to remain alert! Sin pounced on Cain and he killed Abel - Ge 4:8! Beware!) and deceptive (Hebrews 3:13-see discussion there of deceptiveness of sin). and in which we have sinned - Note that even though Aaron was not judged, he immediately recognized he was complicit in the sinful actions against Moses and so quickly "came clean" (Pr 28:13+). They had missed the mark massively. This was not an accidental sin, but a presumptive, pre-meditated sin against Moses but ultimately against Yahweh, for Yahweh had bestowed on Moses the authority they were challenging. In truth, they were challenging God. Beloved, whenever we sin, whatever the sin is, it is ultimately a sin against God (cf Ps 51) Have sinned (Lxx = hamartano)(02398)(chata') means to miss the way, to fail; to err, to swerve from truth, to go wrong. The literal use describes an accurate shot by slingshot Jdg 20:16 - they could "not miss (chata')." Pr 19:2 conveys a related meaning of chata' in those versions that translate it as "miss the way." (Pr 19:2NIV) As Vine says "From this basic meaning comes the word’s chief usage to indicate moral failure toward both God and men, and certain results of such wrongs." When man sins he has missed the mark, the goal, or the way that God has set as standard. Numbers 12:12 "Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother's womb!" BGT Numbers 12:12 μὴ γένηται ὡσεὶ ἴσον θανάτῳ ὡσεὶ ἔκτρωμα ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ μήτρας μητρὸς καὶ κατεσθίει τὸ ἥμισυ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῆς NET Numbers 12:12 Do not let her be like a baby born dead, whose flesh is half-consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb!" NLT Numbers 12:12 Don't let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth." ESV Numbers 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb." NIV Numbers 12:12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away." KJV Numbers 12:12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. YLT Numbers 12:12 let her not, I pray thee, be as one dead, when in his coming out from the womb of his mother -- the half of his flesh is consumed.' LXE Numbers 12:12 Let her not be as it were like death, as an abortion coming out of his mother's womb, when the disease devours the half of the flesh. ASV Numbers 12:12 Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. CSB Numbers 12:12 Please don't let her be like a dead baby whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb." NKJ Numbers 12:12 "Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!" NRS Numbers 12:12 Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb." as one dead: Ps 88:4,5 Eph 2:1-5 Col 2:13 1Ti 5:6 of whom: Job 3:16 Ps 58:8 1Co 15:8 Numbers 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MIRIAM, THE ORIGINAL "WALKING DEAD" Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother's womb - Her condition was viewed as if she were a "walking dead" person! It is interesting that one of Aaron’s job was to identify leprous conditions (Lev 13:2–17+), and clearly he had no difficulty in identifying this one in his own sister! NET Note - The words “his mother” and “flesh” are among the so-called tiqqune sopherim, or “emendations of the scribes.” According to this tradition the text originally had here “our mother” and “our flesh,” but the ancient scribes changed these pronouns from the first person to the third person. Apparently they were concerned that the image of Moses’ mother giving birth to a baby with physical defects of the sort described here was somehow inappropriate, given the stature and importance of Moses. Numbers 12:13 Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "O God, heal her, I pray!" BGT Numbers 12:13 καὶ ἐβόησεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς κύριον λέγων ὁ θεός δέομαί σου ἴασαι αὐτήν NET Numbers 12:13 Then Moses cried to the LORD, "Heal her now, O God." NLT Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, I beg you, please heal her!" ESV Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her-- please." NIV Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!" KJV Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. YLT Numbers 12:13 And Moses crieth unto Jehovah, saying, 'O God, I pray Thee, give, I pray Thee, healing to her.' LXE Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried to the Lord, saying, O God, I beseech thee, heal her. ASV Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, Heal her, O God, I beseech thee. CSB Numbers 12:13 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "God, please heal her!" NKJ Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!" NRS Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her." NAB Numbers 12:13 Then Moses cried to the LORD, "Please, not this! Pray, heal her!" NJB Numbers 12:13 Moses pleaded with Yahweh. 'O God,' he said, 'I beg you, please heal her!' GWN Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried to the LORD, "Please, God, heal her!" Nu 14:2,13-20 16:41,46-50 Ex 32:10-14 1Sa 12:23 15:11 Mt 5:44,45 Lu 6:28 23:34 Ac 7:60 Ro 12:21 Jas 5:15 Numbers 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES THE MEDIATOR INTERCEDES FOR MERCY Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, "O God, heal her, I pray - Moses returns good for evil. He is an Old Testament example of a New Testament truth. (Mt 5:44+, Ro 12:14+, Job 42:10). When you pray for those who have offended you, it helps you guard against bitterness.