Numbers 12:14

And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in [again].

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Moses {H4872}, If her father {H1} had but {H3417} spit {H3417} in her face {H6440}, should she not be ashamed {H3637} seven {H7651} days {H3117}? let her be shut {H5462} out {H2351} from the camp {H4264} seven {H7651} days {H3117}, and after {H310} that let her be received {H622} in again.

ADONAI answered Moshe, "If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn't she hide herself in shame for seven days? So let her be shut out of the camp for seven days; after that, she can be brought back in."

But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”

And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.

Commentary

Numbers 12:14 presents God’s specific instruction regarding Miriam’s temporary punishment after she and Aaron spoke against Moses. This verse highlights divine justice, the cultural understanding of shame, and the pathway to restoration within the community of Israel.

Context

This verse follows a significant event where Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses’ unique prophetic authority and his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. God swiftly intervened, expressing His displeasure and striking Miriam with leprosy (Numbers 12:10). Moses, in his characteristic humility, interceded for her (Numbers 12:13). God's response in verse 14 is not a refusal of mercy but a demonstration of the necessary consequences for such a serious offense, particularly against His chosen leader, whom He spoke with face to face (Numbers 12:8).

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Consequences: God’s immediate judgment on Miriam for her rebellion underscores the seriousness of challenging divine authority. Even though Moses interceded, a consequence was still required to uphold God's holiness and the established order.
  • Shame and Purification: The analogy "If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?" draws on a powerful cultural symbol of extreme disgrace. Spitting in someone's face was a profound act of contempt and public humiliation. God uses this relatable image to illustrate that if a human father’s rebuke warrants a period of shame, how much more does a divine rebuke require a public demonstration of consequence and a period of purification? Being "shut out from the camp" was the prescribed method for isolating those with ritual uncleanness, especially leprosy, under the Mosaic Law, emphasizing both physical separation and spiritual cleansing.
  • Restoration and Grace: Crucially, the verse concludes with "and after that let her be received in [again]." This highlights that the purpose of the discipline was not permanent banishment but purification and eventual restoration to the community. God's justice is always tempered with a pathway for reconciliation and re-entry for the repentant.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "spit in her face" (Hebrew: יָרַק בְּפָנֶיהָ - yaraq b'faneha) is a vivid expression of public contempt and shame. It implies a deep dishonor that would naturally lead to a period of withdrawal and humility. The seven-day period was a common duration for purification rituals and periods of uncleanness in Israelite law, signifying a complete cycle of separation and cleansing before re-entry.

Practical Application

Numbers 12:14 teaches us about the gravity of disrespecting authority, especially those appointed by God. It reminds us that sin has consequences, and God's discipline, though sometimes painful, is often for our good and ultimately aimed at our purification and restoration (Hebrews 12:11). It encourages humility when we err, the willingness to accept consequences, and the hope that God always provides a way back for those who humble themselves and seek His grace.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 25:9

    Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.

  • Job 30:10

    They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

  • Numbers 5:2

    Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:

  • Numbers 5:3

    Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.

  • Leviticus 13:45

    And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

  • Leviticus 13:46

    All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].
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