SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:1
Âĥ Y hablaron María y Aarón contra Moisés a causa de la mujer etíope que había tomado; porque él había tomado mujer etíope.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 12:1
Verse 1. Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses] It appears that jealousy of the power and influence of Moses was the real cause of their complaint though his having married an Ethiopian woman-tykh hah haishshah haccushith-THAT WOMAN, the Cushite, probably meaning Zipporah, who was an Arab born in the land of Midian-was the ostensible cause.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses , etc.] Miriam is first mentioned, because she was first in the transgression, and so was only punished; Aaron was drawn into the sin by her, and he acknowledged his fault, and was forgiven: it must be a great trial to Moses, not only to be spoken against by the people, as he often was, but by his near relations, and these gracious persons, and concerned with him in leading and guiding the people through the wilderness, ( Micah 6:4); because of the Ethiopian woman, whom he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian woman ; not a queen of Ethiopia, as the Targum of Jonathan; nor Tharbis, a daughter of a king of Ethiopia, whom Josephus f147 says he married, when he was sent upon an expedition against the Ethiopians, while he was in Pharaohs court; nor the widow of an Ethiopian king whom he married after his death, when he fled from Pharaoh into Ethiopia, and was made a king there, as say some Jewish writers f148 : for there is no reason to believe he was married before he went to Midian; nor was this some Ethiopian woman he had married since, and but lately, Zipporah being dead or divorced, as some have fancied; but it was Zipporah herself, as Aben Ezra, Ben Melech, and so the Jerusalem Targum, which represents her not as truly an Ethiopian, but so called, because she was like to one; indeed she was really one; not a native of Ethiopia, the country of the Abyssines, but she was a Cushite, a native of Arabia Chusea, in which country Midian was, from whence she came; hence the tents, of Cushan, and the curtains of Midian, are spoken of together, ( Habakkuk 3:7). Now it was not on account of Mosess marriage with her that they spoke against him, for that was an affair transacted in Midian some years ago, which at first sight may seem to be the case; nor because he now had divorced her, as Jarchi, which perhaps would have given them no uneasiness; and for the same reason, not because he abstained from conversation with her, that he might give up himself to the service of God in his house, and perform it in a more holy and faithful manner, which is the common sentiment of the Jewish writers: but rather, as it is thought by others, because of a suspicion they had entertained, that she had interested herself in the affair of the choice of the seventy elders, and had prevailed upon Moses to put in such and such persons into the list she had a mind to serve; at least this seems to be the case, for the displeasure was against Moses himself; they were angry with him, because he transacted that affair without them, and chose whom he pleased, without consulting them; and therefore, though they cared not to ascribe it entirely to him, and his neglect of them, they imputed it to his wife, as if she had over persuaded him, or her brother through her means, to take such a step as he did.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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. Opposition from our near relations, and from religious friends, is most painful. But this is to be looked for, an it will be well if in such circumstances we can preserve the gentlenes and meekness of Moses. Moses was thus fitted to the work he was calle to. God not only cleared Moses, but praised him. Moses had the spiri of prophecy in a way which set him far above all other prophets; yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he; and ou Lord Jesus infinitely excels him, Heb 3:1. Let Miriam and Aaro consider whom it was they insulted. We have reason to be afraid of saying or doing any thing against the servants of God. And those ar presumptuous indeed who are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, 2P 2:10. The removal of God's presence is the surest and saddest token of God's displeasure. Woe to us, if he depart! he never departs, till by sin and folly we drive him from us.
Original Hebrew
ותדבר 1696 מרים 4813 ואהרן 175 במשׁה 4872 על 5921 אדות 182 האשׁה 802 הכשׁית 3569 אשׁר 834 לקח 3947 כי 3588 אשׁה 802 כשׁית 3569 לקח׃ 3947
