Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Numbers 12
Miriam and Aaron murmur against Moses, ver. 1-3. God calls
them to an account for it, ver. 4-9. Miriam becoming leprous,
Aaron humbles himself, and Moses prays for her, ver. 10-13. She
is healed, but shut out of the camp for seven days, ver. 14-16.
Verse 1. Miriam - Miriam seems to be first named, because she was the
first mover of the sedition; wherefore she is more eminently
punished. The Ethiopian - Either,
1. Zipporah, who is here called an Ethiopian, in the Hebrew a
Cushite, because she was a Midianite: the word Cush being
generally used in scripture, not for Ethiopia properly so called
below Egypt, but for Arabia. If she be meant, probably they did
not quarrel with him for marrying her, because that was done long
since, but for being swayed by her and her relations, by whom
they might think he was persuaded to chose seventy rulers, by
which co-partnership in government they thought their authority
and reputation diminished. And because they durst not accuse
God, they charge Moses, his instrument, as the manner of men is.
Or,
2. some other woman, whom he married either whilst Zipporah
lived, or rather because she was now dead, though that, as many
other things, be not recorded. For, as the quarrel seems to be about
his marrying a stranger, it is probable it was a fresh occasion
about which they contended. And it was lawful for him as well as
any other to marry an Ethiopian or Arabian woman, provided she
were, a sincere proselyte.
Verse 2. By us - Are not we prophets as well as he? so Aaron was made,
Exod. iv, 15, 16, and so Miriam is called, Exod. xv, 20. And
Moses hath debased and mixed the holy seed, which we have not
done. Why then should he take all power to himself, and make
rulers as he pleaseth, without consulting us. The Lord heard -
Observed their words and carriage to Moses.
Verse 3. Meek - This is added as the reason why Moses took no notice
of their reproach, and why God did so severely plead his cause.
Thus was he fitted for the work he was called to, which required
all the meekness he had. And this is often more tried by the
unkindness of our friends, than by the malice of our enemies.
Probably this commendation was added, as some other clauses
were, by some succeeding prophet. How was Moses so meek,
when we often read of his anger? But this only proves, that the
law made nothing perfect.
Verse 4. Suddenly - To stifle the beginnings of the sedition, that this
example might not spread amongst the people. Come out - Out of
your private dwellings, that you may know my pleasure and your
own doom.
Verse 5. In the door - While they stood without, not being admitted into
the tabernacle, as Aaron used to be; a sign of God's displeasure.
Verse 6. Among you - if you be prophets, yet know there is a difference
among prophets, nor do I put equal honour upon all of them.
Verse 7. In all my house - That is, whom I have set over all my house,
my church and people, and therefore over you; and who hath
discharged his office faithfully, and not partially as you falsely
accuse him.
Verse 8. Mouth to mouth - That is, distinctly, by an articulate voice;
immediately, not by an interpreter, nor by shadows and
representations in his fancy, as it is in visions and dreams; and
familiarly. Apparently - Plainly and certainly. Dark speeches -
Not in parables, similitudes, dark resemblances; as by shewing a
boiling pot, an almond tree, &c. to Jeremiah, a chariot with
wheels, &c. to Ezekiel. The similitude - Not the face or essence of
God, which no man can see and live, Exod. xxxiii, 20, but some
singular manifestation of his glorious presence, as Exod. xxxiii,
11, 20. Yea the Son of God appeared to him in an human shape,
which he took up for a time, that he might give him a foretaste of
his future incarnation. My servant - Who is so in such an eminent
and extraordinary manner.
Verse 9. He departed - From the door of the tabernacle, in token of his
great displeasure, not waiting for their answer. The removal of
God~s presence from us, is the saddest token of his displeasure.
And he never departs, till we by our sin and folly drive him from
us.
Verse 10. From the tabernacle - Not from the whole tabernacle, but from
that part, whither it was come, to that part which was directly over
the mercy-seat, where it constantly abode. Leprous - She, and not
Aaron, either because she was chief in the transgression or
because God would not have his worship interrupted or
dishonoured, which it must have been if Aaron had been leprous.
White - This kind of leprosy was the most virulent and incurable
of all. It is true, when the leprosy began in a particular part, and
thence spread itself over all the flesh by degrees, and at last made
it all white, that was an evidence of the cure of the leprosy, Lev.
xiii, 12, 13. But it was otherwise when one was suddenly smitten
with this universal whiteness.
Verse 11. Lay not the sin - Let not the guilt and punishment of this sin
rest upon us, upon her in this kind, upon me in any other kind, but
pray to God for the pardon and removal of it.
Verse 12. As one dead - Because part of her flesh was putrefied and
dead, and not to be restored but by the mighty power of God. Like
a still-born child, that hath been for some time dead in the womb,
which when it comes forth, is putrefied, and part of it consumed.
Verse 14. Spit in her face - That is, expressed some eminent token of
indignation and contempt, which was this, Job xxx, 10 Isaiah l, 6.
Ashamed - And withdraw herself, from her father's presence, as
Jonathan did upon a like occasion, 1 Sam. xx, 34. So though God
healed her according to Moses's request, yet he would have her
publickly bear the shame of her sin, and be a warning to others to
keep them from the same transgression.
Verse 15. Journeyed not - Which was a testimony of respect to her both
from God and from the people, God so ordering it, partly lest she
should be overwhelmed by such a publick rebuke from God, and
partly lest, she being a prophetess, the gift of prophesy should
come into contempt.
Verse 16. Paran - That is, in another part of the same wilderness.
Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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