Wednesday, May 23, 2007

God curses Miriam with leprosy for speaking against Moses

Numbers 12:1,9-15 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman).

So the anger of the LORD burned against them and He departed. But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. As Aaron turned toward Miriam, behold, she was leprous.

Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned. “Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!”

Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “O God, heal her, I pray!”

But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up for seven days outside the camp, and afterward she may be received again.”

So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.


PERSONAL COMMENTARY

1. Mariam and Aaron spoke against Moses however only Mariam got leprosy. Why?
2. What did Aaron mean by “do not account this sin to us.” He didn’t receive any punishment.
3. If a father spit on his daughter’s face, does she really bare shame for 7 days?

21 comments:

kbdavis07 said...

The Rabbis of the Talmud noted that Aaron did not receive the same punishment as his sister, otherwise he would no longer have been able to perform his duties as high priest.

Cali Girl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cali Girl said...

Apparently, back in those days, as it is today, it is a gross sign of disrespect to spit in someone's face. They must have had the tradition of going into hiding until most people have forgotten about it and moved on. Back in those days, they handled shame and grief differently than we do now. The poured ashes on themselves and put on sackclothe to show that they were brought low.

Anonymous said...

Miriam received an ironic punishment of snow white leprous skin, because she spoke out against Moses Cushite, or black, wife!
You wanna bag on black people? I'll make you REAL white!
It's somewhat funny. Also, not much is made of Moses marrying a black woman.

Anonymous said...

Amos 9:7 "Are you not like the Cushites to me, O people of Israel?"

Moses was black, the difference was like American to Canadian, Catholic to Baptist.
Leprosy back then is like vilitigo.

Unknown said...

Good for you!

Anonymous said...

a tad off the subject, but, its a very sad day when one can use the comparison of catholic to baptist so lightly. The term PROTESTANT comes from protesting against the pope and the catholic church! This will prove to be the downfall of the people of God

Unknown said...

Moses was black himself dummy.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

a tad off the subject, but, its a very sad day when one can use the comparison of catholic to baptist so lightly. The term PROTESTANT comes from protesting against the pope and the catholic church! This will prove to be the downfall of the people of God

8/16/2014 12:33 PM

You said PROTESTING AGAINST THE POPE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL PROVE TO BE THE DOWNFALL OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

Does anyone see anything wrong with that statement? lol

THE POPE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CANNOT SAVE YOU. THE POPE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL NOT JUDGE YOU. THE POPE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE NO HEAVEN OR HELL TO PUT YOU IN.

Only OUR SAVIOUR can do those things. THAT IS WHY WE "PROTESTANTS" ARE NOT OBEDIENT TO... THE POPE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH....

Anonymous said...

From how I perceive this scripture: I don't think Moses was black..It is obvious why Mirium and Aaron spoke out against Moses marrying the Cushite..it was a interracial marriage..so it must of been wrong..Moses had a relationship with God..so God allowed it..other wise for myself I don't believe in interracial marriages..My Pastor stated back in those days they didn't mix races due to mixing beliefs..like a Jew marrying a Catholic..being unequally yoked . The church I attend will marry interracial people..fine..... I think in this day and age it still remains true..Relationships are hard enough.. mixing cultures..you have relationship issues..not just in religious beliefs..but culture issues..for me I prefer to keep my bloodline the same.no mixing...being equally yoked makes for an easier relationship..

Unknown said...


1.Arron was punished he only made it to the Jordan river never to cross into the promise god gave
2. He was asking to be forgiven one of the reasons he was spared leprosy
3.in gods eye yes in new mans eye its just disrespectful

Unknown said...


1.Arron was punished he only made it to the Jordan river never to cross into the promise god gave
2. He was asking to be forgiven one of the reasons he was spared leprosy
3.in gods eye yes in new mans eye its just disrespectful

praisewrite@gmail.com said...

Love your answer !!

praisewrite@gmail.com said...

Love your answer !!

Anonymous said...

that's not God..thats the "LORD" the one who the bible says is evil
he has skin color issues and ruins lives and is ego driven
just satan

Anonymous said...

so animalistic and UNHOLY the LORD all throughout bible
cares about race and stuff
and acts like the people of today who are monkey ape like too
that's their "father" and they must obey
but many of us are HOLY and have nothing to do with that disgusting race of people

Anonymous said...

cushites are insulted in bible too as they are today
no one cares anymore
its not a people its a sorcery.
humans seem like a disease or like an abortion (nephil means abortion,nephilim/fallen ones)
from virgo virgin "never gave birth"

Unknown said...

No he wasn't dummy!

Kaye Davis said...

Back in those days they didn't go by race but by the tribes for example: Cushites,Shemites,Hamites,Japhites.In 1752-1840 certain Germans and others conceived themselves as belonging to a superior race Johann F. Blumenback a German was the first to divide humanity on the basis of skin color. Moses wife was of a difference tribe it had nothing to do with the color of her skin.

Kristy Morgan said...

Moses was Hebrew. They are brown or tan... Not black. I agree that the punishment was ironic. Lol!However,it was not because Miriam wanted to be white. She too was Hebrew: Brown. I feel it was more to put her in a place that she had wasted Miriam and possibly even Moses to be: outside of the camp! Outside of their people!

Shay said...

You do know that many black people are brown or tan? Whatever the reason for Miriam and Aaron's behavior, this was displeasing to God so the punishment was leprosy for Miriam and she became white. This means that the Hebrews were probably not white folk. They were probably brown skinned with African ancestry. Moses Himself was raised by the African Egyptians and did not stand out from them due to his skin color.