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The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:32
And the people stood up … next day. A statement which shows us how greedy the people were, and how inordinately eager to supply themselves with an abundance of animal food. They were so afraid of losing any of the birds…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:33
And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed. If this were taken in the most literal sense, it would mean that no one of the people had time to swallow a single morsel of the coveted food ere he wa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:34
Kibroth-Hattaavah. The graves of greediness. Septuagint, ΄νήματα τῆς ἐπιθυμίας. This name, like Tabeerah, was given to the place by the Israelites themselves in connection with their own history; the name, therefore…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 11:35
And abode at Hazeroth. Or, "were in Hazeroth." Septuagint, ἐγένετο ὁ λαὸς ἀσηρώθ. Hazeroth, from חָצַר, to shut in, means "enclosures;" so named perhaps from some ancient stone enclosures erected by wandering trib…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 12:1-9
The patience of Moses was tried in his own family, as well as by the people. The pretence was, that he had married a foreign wife; but probably their pride was hurt, and their envy stirred up, by his superior authority.…
Murmuring of Miriam and Aaron. (b. c. 1490.)
MURMURING OF MIRIAM AND AARON. (B. C. 1490.) Here is, I. The unbecoming passion of Aaron and Miriam: they spoke against Moses, Numbers 12:1. If Moses, that received so much honour from God, yet received so many slights…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:1-16
GOD THE VINDICATOR OF HIS CALUMNIATED SERVANTS The serpent's trail was found in Eden, and "a devil" among the apostles. No wonder then at this narrative of strife in a godly family. We notice— I. AN UNJUST INSINUATION.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:1-16
THE CONTRADICTION OF SINNERS We have in this chapter, spiritually, the contradiction of the Jews against their brother after the flesh; morally, the sin and punishment of jealousy and envy in high places. Consider, ther…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:1-16
EXPOSITION THE SEDITION AND PUNISHMENT OF MIRIAM (Numbers 12:1-16.).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:1
And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses. While the people were encamped at Hazeroth (see Numbers 12:16), and therefore probably very soon after the events of the last chapter. That Miriam's was the moving spirit in the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:1-6
THE SEDITION OF MIRIAM AND AARON Here is another sedition in Israel. What is worse, the sedition does not, at this time, originate among the mixed multitude, the pariahs of the camp. The authors of it are the two leadin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:2
And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? This is evidently not the "speaking against Moses" mentioned in the previous verse, for that is distinctly said to have been on th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:2
THE LORD LISTENING "And the Lord heard it." Compare with this the words," And the Lord hearkened and heard" (Malachi 3:16). We are thus reminded that God listens not only to take note of our sinful words, but to record…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:3
A DISTINGUISHED EXAMPLE OF MEEKNESS This quality of meekness, for which Moses is here so much praised, is not without its signs earlier in the narrative of his connection with the Israelites; and as we look back in the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:3
Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. For the Hebrew עָנָו the Septuagint has πραὺς here; the Vulgate, mitis. The Targum Palestine has "bowed down in his mind," i.e;…
Matthew Henry on 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 w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:4-15
THE HUMBLING OF THE PROUD AND THE EXALTATION OF THE MEEK. THE HUMBLING WAS EVIDENTLY BY THE ACTION OF GOD HIMSELF The Lord heard Miriam and Aaron in the words of their pride, and even though Moses might bear these words…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:4
The Lord spake suddenly. How he spoke we cannot tell, but the word "suddenly" points to something unexpected and unusual. The voice seems to have come to the three in their tents before there was any thought in their mi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:5
The Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud. The cloud which had been soaring above the tabernacle descended upon it (see Numbers 11:25 and Numbers 12:10). And stood in the door of the tabernacle. It would seem most n…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:6-8
THE SINGULAR HONOUR OF MOSES The best commentary on these verses is supplied by the comparison instituted between Moses and our blessed Lord in the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 3:1-6). The Hebrews are reminded that o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:6
If there boa prophet among you I the Lord will make myself known. More probably "the Lord" belongs to the first clause: "If there be to you a prophet of the Lord, I will make myself known." So the Septuagint, ἐὰν γέν…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:7
My servant Moses is not so. No words could more clearly and sharply draw the distinction between Moses and the whole laudabilis numerus of the prophets. It is strange that, in the face of a statement so general and so e…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:8
Mouth to mouth. Equivalent to face to face in Exodus 33:11. What the exact facts of the case were it is not possible to know, scarcely to imagine; but the words seem to imply a familiar speaking with an audible voice on…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 12:9
And he departed. As a judge departs from his judgment-seat after trying and convicting evil-doers.