Verse 1

Miriam. Named first to show she was first in the rebellion. See Numbers 12:10. Compare Genesis 3:3.

Ethiopian = Zipporah. Hebrew. Cushite. Arabia was in the land of Cush: or Zipporah (Exodus 2:21) may have been of Cushite nationality, though territorially a Midianite.

Verse 2

Hath . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Verse 3

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

very meek = patient. First occurrence. Hebrew. "anah = to endure with submission what might be evaded: in contrast with Hebrew. "ani = to bear what cannot be avoided.

men. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

Verse 4

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1.

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. "ohel. See App-40.

Verse 5

door = entrance.

Verse 6

He: i.e. Jehovah.

said. See note on Numbers 3:40.

If there be = should there be; i.e. when ye have your prophet.

make Myself known. This also essential to a prophet. Compare Numbers 11:29.

Verse 7

My servant Moses. First occurrence. Occurs six times. See Numbers 12:7, Numbers 12:8. Joshua 1:2, Joshua 1:7; 2 Kings 21:8. Mai. Numbers 4:4.

not so: i.e. much greater. Compare Numbers 12:8.

who is faithful. Compare Hebrews 3:2, or, Faithful is he, &c.

Verse 8

mouth to mouth. Compare Genesis 45:12. 2 John 1:12, 3 John 1:14. See also Exodus 33:11. Deuteronomy 34:10. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

apparently = plainly.

not, &c. = Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6.

similitude: i.e. likeness or image. This must be understood in harmony with Exodus 33:20, Exodus 33:23. Compare Deuteronomy 4:12, Deuteronomy 4:15. John 1:18. 1 Timothy 6:16. Compare Colossians 1:15.

against, &c. Hebrew "against my servant, against Moses. "Compare idiom in Genesis 21:10 and note.

Verse 9

kindled: with instant result.

He: i.e. Jehovah.

Verse 10

leprous. See note on Exodus 4:6.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6. = "there she was leprous! "abruptness of language reveals the excitement produced.

Verse 11

sin . . . sinned. Hebrew. chat"a. App-44.

Verse 12

dead = stillborn.

the flesh. The Primitive Text lead "our flesh". This is one of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim (see App-33), to avoid what was supposed to he derogatory to Aaron.

his mother"s. The Primitive Text read "our mother"s" (see above note): thus it is made impersonal.

Verse 13

GOD = El. = God, the mighty God. See App-4.

spit in her face = treat with contempt: so the idiom is used in Syriac and Arabic to-day. Hebrew "had spitted a spitting. "Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6), for emphasis. Compare Job 30:10.

seven days. Compare Leviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:5, Leviticus 13:21, Leviticus 13:26.

received in. Homonym "asaph (1) to heal or recover, here, 2 Kings 5:6. Psalms 27:10; (2) to snatch away or destroy, Psalms 26:9. Jeremiah 16:5.

Verse 15

brought = received, Numbers 12:14.