In the previous chapter, we learned that Israel complained about a lack of good food, despite the Lord providing manna and quail. Here, in this chapter we find Miriam, the prophetess, Exodus 15:20-21, and Aaron complaining about Moses marrying a foreigner, that is, Zipporah the Cushite, Numbers 12:1. Note that some translations have the word Ethiopia.
We know that Moses did indeed marry a woman named Zipporah, Exodus 2:21, but there are a few thoughts about the Zipporah who is mentioned here because back in Exodus 3:16-22, Moses’ wife was called Zipporah but she was from Midian.
Some commentators believe that Zipporah had died, and this was a second wife Moses took after her death. Other commentators believe that Moses took a second wife in addition to Zipporah. While others suggest that Jethro, Zipporah’s father, was actually from Ethiopia and had moved to Midian, making Zipporah an Ethiopian by birth but living in Midian. One other commentator suggested that it’s possible that the word Ethiopian which was being used here was a derogatory term used to criticize Zipporah because of their dark skin.
Notice however, there was a more serious complaint, they complained about Moses being the lone leader of the people, Numbers 12:2 / Matthew 13:57. We are told that Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth, Numbers 12:3. This is one reason why God is about to deal with this matter quickly.
Interestingly, God appears to ignore the complaints against Moses being married to Zipporah but instead, focuses on the complaint against Moses being their leader and the authority he had. God didn’t waste any time in speaking, which tells us that in His eyes, this was a serious matter.
God tells Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, to come out to the tent of meeting, and they obeyed, Numbers 12:4. The LORD comes down in a pillar of cloud and stands at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam, Numbers 12:5. When Aaron and Miriam stepped forward, God tells them to listen to His words, Numbers 12:5-6.
God tells them that He spoke indirectly to other prophets through visions and dreams, Numbers 12:6, but with Moses, who was His faithful servant, Hebrews 3:5-6 / He spoke mouth to mouth, face to face, Numbers 12:7-8 / Exodus 33:20. This tells us that Moses had a real personal relationship with God.
Remember that the words, ‘face to face’ are a figure of speech, telling of great and unhindered intimacy. Moses’ face was not literally beholding the literal face of God, but he did enjoy direct, intimate, conversation with the LORD.
Moses was God’s mediator between Himself and the people and he became the example of how God would relate to all men personally through the mediatorship of Jesus, Hebrews 3:2-6. It was very clear that no one should challenge God’s appointed leader, Moses, Numbers 12:8. The anger of the LORD burned against Aaron and Miriam, and He left them, Numbers 12:9.
It appears that Miriam must have been the one who initiated the challenge against Moses as she is the one who is punished with leprosy, which became as white as snow, Numbers 12:10. Notice that when Aaron saw what happened to his sister, his attitude towards Moses changed, he called Moses, ‘my lord’, Numbers 12:10-11.
Aarons pleads with Moses and asks that his sister not become like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away, Numbers 12:12. He knows the only way to save his sister is by understanding Moses’ position and his job as mediator, and more importantly accept it.
Moses after hearing Aaron’s pleas on behalf of Miriam cries out to the LORD and asks Him to heal her, Numbers 12:13. The LORD replied to Moses, and says if her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Numbers 12:14.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the spitting on the face.
‘In patriarchal times, this was a most severe penalty and entailed a period of seclusion and mourning on the part of the offender.’
Miriam is to be confined outside the camp for seven days and after that she can be brought back, Numbers 12:14. Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people didn’t move on till she was brought back, Numbers 12:15.
We must remember that Miriam would now because of being a leper, have social disadvantages, she would have no social contact with anyone in Israel, Leviticus 13-14. It’s certainly possible that she thought that she could rise to a position of power among the people, like Moses, but this led her to be humiliated and banished from among the people, Proverbs 16:18 / Isaiah 10:33.
Seven days was sufficient time to punish anyone who dared to question God’s anointed authority. Because of this incident we know that the authority of God’s Word mustn’t be questioned either, John 12:48 / Galatians 1:6-9 / Revelation 22:18-19.
The people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran, Numbers 12:16. The desert of Paran is Kadesh-Barnea, Deuteronomy 1:18.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
1. Zipporah, a Cushite married by Moses, shows the choice which Jesus Christ made in his calling the Gentiles to become his Bride the Church.
2. The jealous opposition of Miriam and Aaron to Moses shows the envious hatred of the Jews against Christ and his apostles, when they saw that the Gentiles also were invited to share the heavenly banquet.
3. The leprosy that came to Miriam foreshadows the wretched state of the Jews as a consequence of their opposing God’s will, ever afterward being: (a) without temple; (b) without sacrifice; (c) without state; (d) and without head.
4. Moses in this place is said to be: (a) the meekest of all men; (b) the faithful servant in all God’s house; (c) that he had an intimate face to face relation to God; and (d) that God revealed all truth to him clearly. Of Jesus Christ alone could all these be said without reservation, leaving the certainty that God gave these words, though applied to the type, as eloquent witnesses of the Greater Prophet ‘like unto Moses’.