Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Numbers 12
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
brought = received, Numbers 12:14.
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