Numbers 12

English NLT

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1While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman.

2They said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he spoken through us, too?" But the LORD heard them.

3Now Moses was more humble than any other person on earth.

4So immediately the LORD called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, "Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!" And the three of them went out.

5Then the LORD descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. "Aaron and Miriam!" he called, and they stepped forward.

6And the LORD said to them, "Now listen to me! Even with prophets, I the LORD communicate by visions and dreams.

7But that is not how I communicate with my servant Moses. He is entrusted with my entire house.

8I speak to him face to face, directly and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. Should you not be afraid to criticize him?"

9The LORD was furious with them, and he departed.

10As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, Miriam suddenly became white as snow with leprosy. When Aaron saw what had happened,

11he cried out to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please don't punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed.

12Don't let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth."

13So Moses cried out to the LORD, "Heal her, O God, I beg you!"

14And the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, wouldn't she have been defiled for seven days? Banish her from the camp for seven days, and after that she may return."

15So Miriam was excluded from the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again.

16Then they left Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

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