Num 12:10 | NETfull | STEP | When the cloud departed from above the tent, Miriam became leprous as snow. Then Aaron looked at Miriam, and she was leprous!

Numbers 12:10

10 When ^{▼▼ The disjunctive vav (ו) is here introducing a circumstantial clause of time.} the cloud departed from above the tent, Miriam became ^{▼▼ There is no verb “became” in this line. The second half of the line is introduced with the particle הִנֵה (hinneh, “look, behold”) in its archaic sense. This deictic use is intended to make the reader focus on Miriam as well.} leprous ^{▼▼ The word “leprosy” and “leprous” covers a wide variety of skin diseases, and need not be limited to the actual disease of leprosy known today as Hansen’s disease. The description of it here has to do with snow, either the whiteness or the wetness. If that is the case then there would be open wounds and sores – like Job’s illness (see M. Noth, Numbers [OTL], 95–96).} as snow. Then Aaron looked at ^{▼▼ Heb “turned to.”} Miriam, and she was leprous!