Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 12:2
And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard [it].
2. They do not deny Moses’ prophetic capacity, but they claim an equality with him. If Num 12:1 is not a fragment of a separate narrative, as some think, we must suppose that Moses’ marriage was the particular case which gave rise to their claim.
indeed spoken only ] The Heb. is emphatic by the use (not found elsewhere) of the two synonyms spoken only and solely.
with Moses ] R.V. marg. ‘by Moses’ is a possible rendering, implying that Jehovah makes use of His prophet as a channel of communication with other men. But in Num 12:6 the poetic parallelism shews that ‘ with him (in a dream)’ is equivalent to ‘ unto him (in a vision).’ It is better, therefore, to retain that meaning here.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?] It is certain that both Aaron and Miriam had received a portion of the prophetic spirit, (see Ex 4:15, and Ex 15:20), and therefore they thought they might have a share in the government; for though there was no kind of gain attached to this government, and no honour but such as came from God, yet the love of power is natural to the human mind; and in many instances men will sacrifice even honour, pleasure, and profit to the lust of power.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Are not we prophets as well as he? so Aaron was made, Exo 4:15,16, and so Miriam is called, Exo 15:20. See also Mic 6:4. And Moses hath debased and mixed the holy seed, which we have not done. Why then should he take all power to himself, and make rulers as he pleaseth, without consulting us in the case? The Lord heard it, i. e. observed their words and carriage to Moses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Hath the Lord indeed spoken onlyby Moses? hath he not also spoken by us?The prophetical nameand character was bestowed upon Aaron (Exo 4:15;Exo 4:16) and Miriam (Ex15:20); and, therefore, they considered the conduct of Moses, inexercising an exclusive authority in this matter, as an encroachmenton their rights (Mic 6:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they said, hath the Lord, indeed spoken only by Moses?…. They own he had spoken by him; this was so notorious that it could not be denied:
hath he not spoken also by us? are we not prophets as well as he? the Lord spake to Aaron while he was in Egypt, and had made him a good spokesman in his name, and bore this testimony of him, that he could speak well, and Miriam is expressly called a prophetess, Ex 4:14
Ex 15:20; and this being the case, they stomached it that they should have no concern in the choice and appointment of the seventy elders:
and the Lord heard [it]; for perhaps this was said secretly between themselves; but God, that sees, and hears, and knows all things, took notice of what was spoken by them, and resented it; for it was ultimately against himself, who had ordered Moses to do what he did.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? They pride themselves on their gift of prophecy, which ought rather to have schooled them to humility. But such is the natural depravity of men, not only to abuse the gifts of God unto contempt of their brethren, but so to magnify them by their ungodly and sacrilegious boasting, as to obscure the glory of their Author. Miriam and Aaron had received the spirit of prophecy, in order that the grace of God might shine forth in them; but from thence they raise up clouds to throw darkness upon the light, which was far brighter in Moses. They boast themselves to be prophets; why, then, do they not consider that there was no ground for glorying in this, inasmuch as that, which had been gratuitously bestowed upon them by God, was not their own? Again, why do they not correctly estimate their own insignificance in comparison with the excellency of Moses, so as, by willingly yielding to him, to show that they set at its proper value what God had respectively conferred upon them? Lest, then, the knowledge of those graces which God has intrusted to us, should puff us up with pride and presumption, let us remember that the more each of us has received, the greater obligations are we under to God and our brethren; and let us also reflect how much is wanting, in us, and how much, too, God has conferred on others, so as to prefer to ourselves those whom God has designed to honor.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?There is probably a reference in these words to the facts related in Exo. 4:10-16, where Moses speaks of his own slowness of speech (Num. 12:10), and where it is said of Aaron, And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people (Num. 12:16). Miriam also is spoken of in Exo. 15:20 as the prophetess. Such is the depravity of human nature, writes Calvin, that they not only abuse the gifts of God towards the brother whom they despise, but by an ungodly and sacrilegious glorification extol the gifts themselves in such a manner as to hide the Author of the gifts.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Only by Moses Jealousy of Moses, as the exclusive organ of divine revelation, is the inspiration of this unpleasant affair. Human forbearance is put to a severe test when those who were once our equals or inferiors are promoted to dignities and honours far above us. This truthfulness to fallen human nature is no small confirmation of the reality of this account.
And the Lord heard The fact here mentioned prepares the way for the divine judgment which follows.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 12:2. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? &c. As both Aaron and Miriam had been favoured by communications from God, and the gifts of his Spirit; (Exo 4:14-15; Exo 15:20.) and as they are joined with Moses, as conductors of the people while they were in the wilderness, they might think they had a right to be consulted in constituting the elders, who were to be Moses’s assistants in the government. They expressed their indignation, therefore, that he took no notice of them when he chose those elders, as if he alone was acquainted with the mind of God: in which, properly speaking, they murmured not against Moses, but against God himself, by whose immediate direction Moses had acted in that affair.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Reader! remark though Moses is not said to have heard or answered their accusations, the LORD heard it. Was not Moses here a type of the ever blessed JESUS, of whom it was said of him in the days of his flesh, that he was as a deaf man which heard not. Psa 38:12-15 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 12:2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard [it].
Ver. 2. Hath the Lord spoken only by Moses. ] Every man would be something at home; and many care not to raise themselves upon other men’s ruins. Self-love teacheth such to turn the glass, to see themselves bigger, others lesser than they are. That man hath true light that can be content to be a candle before the sun of others.
And the Lord heard it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Hath . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Hath the Lord: Num 16:3, Exo 4:30, Exo 5:1, Exo 7:10, Exo 15:20, Exo 15:21, Mic 6:4
hath he not: Num 11:29, Pro 13:10, Rom 12:3, Rom 12:10, Phi 2:3, Phi 2:14, 1Pe 5:5
And the: Num 11:1, Gen 29:33, 2Sa 11:27, 2Ki 19:4, Psa 94:7-9, Isa 37:4, Eze 35:12, Eze 35:13
Reciprocal: Job 42:10 – when Joh 9:29 – know
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 12:2. By us Are not we prophets as well as he? So Aaron was made, (Exo 4:15-16,) and so Miriam is called, Exo 15:20. And Moses hath debased and mixed the holy seed, which we have not done. Why then should he take all power to himself, and make rulers as he pleaseth, without consulting us? The Lord heard Observed their words and carriage to Moses.