Num 12:1-2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 12:1-16: 12:1-16 Rebellion was not restricted to the “foreign rabble” or to the Israelites who were bored with manna (11:4 ). Moses’ own brother and sister, Aaron the high priest (Exod 29:30 ) and Miriam the prophet (Exod 15:20 ), rebelled against him. Israel was near the nadir of its rebellion against God (Num 13:25–14:12 ). Summary for Num 12:1-2: 12:1-2 Miriam and Aaron might have perceived Moses’ marriage as a threat to their status and ambitions. Miriam is named first, which suggests that she instigated this family feud and could explain why God punished her and not Aaron (12:9-10 ). 12:1 Most interpreters understand the Cushite woman to be Moses’ wife Zipporah from Midian (Exod 2:16-22 ), understanding Cush as referring here to Cushan, a region and people near Midian (Hab 3:7 ). Other interpreters, taking Cushite in its usual sense as referring to Kusi (in northern Arabia), Ethiopia, or Sudan, think that she was a different wife. In either case, it is possible that Miriam and Aaron disapproved of his having married a non-Israelite or that they were jealous of her influence over Moses.

a12:1-16►

b11:4►

cExod 29:30►

dExod 15:20►

eNum 13:25–14:12►

f12:1-2►

g12:9-10►

h12:1►

iExod 2:16-22►

jHab 3:7►

k12:2►

l11:1►

‏ Numbers 12:1-2

Summary for Num 12:1-16: 12:1-16 ^a Rebellion was not restricted to the “foreign rabble” or to the Israelites who were bored with manna (11:4 ^b). Moses’ own brother and sister, Aaron the high priest (Exod 29:30 ^c) and Miriam the prophet (Exod 15:20 ^d), rebelled against him. Israel was near the nadir of its rebellion against God (Num 13:25–14:12 ^e).
Summary for Num 12:1-2: 12:1-2 ^f Miriam and Aaron might have perceived Moses’ marriage as a threat to their status and ambitions. Miriam is named first, which suggests that she instigated this family feud and could explain why God punished her and not Aaron (12:9-10 ^g). 12:1 ^h Most interpreters understand the Cushite woman to be Moses’ wife Zipporah from Midian (Exod 2:16-22 ⁱ), understanding Cush as referring here to Cushan, a region and people near Midian (Hab 3:7 ^j). Other interpreters, taking Cushite in its usual sense as referring to Kusi (in northern Arabia), Ethiopia, or Sudan, think that she was a different wife. In either case, it is possible that Miriam and Aaron disapproved of his having married a non-Israelite or that they were jealous of her influence over Moses.
12:2 ^k The challenge to Moses’ authority was, by implication, a rejection of the Lord’s choice of Moses as Israel’s leader.

• the Lord heard: The same phrase in 11:1 ^l foreshadows the Lord’s response.