|
|
|
|
CHAPTER 12
Aaron and Miriam complain against Moses, the most meek of all men—The Lord promises to speak to Moses mouth to mouth, and to reveal in him his similitude—Miriam becomes leprous for a week. |
||
|
1 AND Miriam and
Aaron spake against Moses because of the aEthiopian woman
whom he had marrieda: for he had
married an Ethiopian woman.
2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very ameek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) |
1a Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses
because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married Now Moses had
been setting forth very strick particulars concering those of the Priest of
Levi who would conduct the affairs of the temple. And in truth, it was held
that such should marry within the promised seed of the covenant and not
without, neither were they to marry a harlot, a divorsed woman and only a
virgin, if they were to so perform the ordinances of the LORD in similitude
as the LORD before the Holy of Holies, the throne of God. Now it was a truth
that Miriam and Aaron did envy Moses and had began to consider themselves not
only his equal but perhaps even his better in his position before God. And
with such strick behavior which Moses did prescribe unto the priest of the
temple, which Moses himself had not adhered to, there seemed to be room to
take such an exception to Moses for his 'mis-marriage' to one outside of the
covenant, even an Ethiopian woman, though it had been prior to Moses calling.
What Miriam and Aaron were doing was to raise themselves up by tearing Moses
down.
Now the fact was that those priests who had to meet such particular criteria were those who would act in the temple ordinances in the very similitude of the promised Redeemer. Thus in their position in performing the ordinances of the LORD, they were required to be 'without' blemish and to be kept clean and to be of proper marriage covenant, and undefiled, and to not partake of strong drink or wine (alcahol) etc. There was a difference to be distingished between he who would perform the atoning ordiances of the LORD in the stead of the LORD, in the similitude of the LORD and Moses who was the Lord's prophet, but not he who stood in similitude of the LORD in performing such atoning ordiances in the temple portaying Christ the LORD in those sacred ordinances. Miriam and Aaron had not comprehended this or they did not take it upon themselves to the extent of wanting to understand it in terms as to accepting why Moses was sanctioned as God's prophet and not held to such rigid specifications as the temple priests who stood as vicariously representing the Messiah in the temple ordinance. Such envious and prideful fault finding with the Lord's anointed Prophet brought an immediate response by the Lord God Jehovah himself. He would not have Miriam and Aaron undermining Moses, the Lord's prophet. In doing so they were not merely discrediting Moses but they were bringing shame upon God. And he would chastise them personally and explain to them specifically that matter between a prophet of God and a performing priest of the temple, that the one acted vicariously in a sacred temple ordinance and the other was the mouth peice of God who God visited and spoke to directly. |
1a
Lev. 10:1 (1-2) 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25); Heb. 10:19 (19-22) b TG Veil c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43); Ex. 40:34 (34-35); D&C 97:16 (15-17); D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13); Abr. 2:19 (19-20)
|
|
4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5 And the LORD came down in the apillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. |
1a
Lev. 10:1 (1-2) 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25); Heb. 10:19 (19-22) b TG Veil c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43); Ex. 40:34 (34-35); D&C 97:16 (15-17); D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13); Abr. 2:19 (19-20)
|
|
|
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a
aprophet among you, I the LORD will make myself
known unto him in a bvision, and will speak unto him
in a cdream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I aspeak bmouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he bbehold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? |
1a
Lev. 10:1 (1-2) 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25); Heb. 10:19 (19-22) b TG Veil c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43); Ex. 40:34 (34-35); D&C 97:16 (15-17); D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13); Abr. 2:19 (19-20)
|
|
|
9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became aleprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. |
||
|
11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. 13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, aHeal her now, O God, I beseech thee. |
||
|
14 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father
had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be
shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in
again.
15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. |
||
| 16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. |