Numbers 12:9-12 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 12:4-9

Moses did not resent the injury done him, nor complain of it to God, nor make any appeal to him; but God resented it. He hears all we say in our passion, and is a swift witness of our hasty speeches, which is a reason why we should resolutely bridle our tongues, that we speak not ill of others, and why we should patiently stop our ears, and not take notice of it, if others speak ill of us. I heard not, for thou wilt hear, Ps. 38:13-15. The more silent we are in our own cause the more is God... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 12:10-16

Here is, I. God's judgment upon Miriam (Num. 12:10): The cloud departed from off that part of the tabernacle, in token of God's displeasure, and presently Miriam became leprous; when God goes, evil comes; expect no good when God departs. The leprosy was a disease often inflicted by the immediate hand of God as the punishment of some particular sin, as on Gehazi for lying, on Uzziah for invading the priest's office, and here on Miriam for scolding and making mischief among relations. The plague... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:9

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them ,.... Which might be visible by some outward token, as by lightning from the cloud, or, however, what follows was sufficient to show it: and he departed ; from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, where he had stood in the pillar of cloud for some time; but as soon as he had given his testimony of Moses, and expressed his displeasure at Aaron and Miriam, he went away directly from them; not staying to hear what they had to say... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:10

And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle ,.... Not from off the door of the tabernacle, as Aben Ezra, for that is implied in the last clause of Numbers 12:9 , but from off that part of the tabernacle, the most holy place, where it had used to abide; but now it went up higher in the air, or removed at some distance from thence, which was a further indication of the sore displeasure of God; that as he would not stay with Aaron and Miriam at the door of the tabernacle, so neither would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:11

And Aaron said unto Moses, alas, my lord !.... The word for "alas" is generally interpreted by the Jewish writers as a note of beseeching and entreating, as it is here by the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan,"I beseech thee, my lord,'or "upon me, my lord" F11 בי "in me", Montanus. , be all the blame; such was his tenderness to his sister, and the compassion he had on her; and such reverence and respect did he show to Moses his brother, though younger than he, because of his superior... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:12

Let her not be as one dead ,.... As she was in a ceremonial sense, being to be shut up and excluded from the society of people, and as defiling by touching as a dead carcase; and, in a natural sense, her flesh, by the disease upon her, was become as dead flesh, putrid and rotten, and unless miraculously cured it would issue in her death: of whom the flesh is half consumed, when he cometh out of his mother's womb ; like an abortive, or one stillborn, that has been dead some time in its... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 12:10

Miriam became leprous - It is likely Miriam was chief in this mutiny; and it is probable that it was on this ground she is mentioned first, (see Numbers 12:1 ;), and punished here, while Aaron is spared. Had he been smitten with the leprosy, his sacred character must have greatly suffered, and perhaps the priesthood itself have fallen into contempt. How many priests and preachers who deserved to be exposed to reproach and infamy, have been spared for the sake of the holy character they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 12:9

Verse 9 9.And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them. The expostulation is succeeded by punishment. God’s departure was a sign of immediate condemnation; because there was no need of any further questioning, as concerning some matter of obscurity. After God, then, had convicted them of their sin, and had inveighed in a severe and stern reprehension against the ingratitude of Miriam and Aaron, He first pronounced their sentence, and then suddenly withdrew. What follows, that “the cloud... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 12:11

Verse 11 11.And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas! my lord. Although Aaron was aware that, through God’s indulgence, his own punishment was remitted, still he does not cease to consider what he had deserved. For we ought not to wait until God smites ourselves, but since in chastising others He invites us to repentance, although He may spare ourselves, we should profit betimes by their punishments. The disfigurement, therefore, of his sister, alarmed and terrified Aaron, so that, examining his own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 12:4-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 12:10-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 12:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 12:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 12:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 12:1-16

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