Numbers 12:15

And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in [again].

And Miriam {H4813} was shut {H5462} out {H2351} from the camp {H4264} seven {H7651} days {H3117}: and the people {H5971} journeyed {H5265} not till Miriam {H4813} was brought {H622} in again.

Miryam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not travel until she was brought back in.

So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again.

And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Commentary

Numbers 12:15 describes the immediate consequence of Miriam's rebellion against Moses, highlighting God's swift judgment and its profound impact on the entire Israelite community during their wilderness journey.

Context

This verse follows a critical incident where Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, questioning his authority and his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. God Himself intervened directly, calling all three to the Tabernacle. There, He publicly affirmed Moses' unique relationship with Him as His chosen prophet, speaking to him "mouth to mouth." As a result of her direct challenge to God's chosen leader, Miriam was immediately struck with leprosy, becoming "white as snow." Moses, despite her sin against him, interceded for her (Numbers 12:13). God commanded that she be shut out of the camp for seven days, a period of purification. This verse details the communal response: the entire camp halted their journey until Miriam's return.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority and Judgment: God's immediate and visible judgment on Miriam underscores the sanctity of the office He appoints and His unwavering defense of His chosen servants. Challenging Moses' leadership was seen as challenging God Himself.
  • Consequences of Sin: Miriam's leprosy and her isolation from the camp serve as a stark reminder that sin has consequences, not only for the individual but also for the wider community.
  • Communal Impact and Solidarity: The fact that "the people journeyed not" for seven days highlights the interconnectedness of the Israelite community. An individual's sin, especially one involving rebellion against God's appointed leader, had a direct impact on the entire nation's progress and their divinely guided wilderness journey.
  • God's Discipline and Mercy: While severe, the punishment was temporary, highlighting God's justice tempered with mercy. The seven-day period allowed for purification and reflection, pointing towards eventual restoration after a period of discipline.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "shut out from the camp" (Hebrew: tissaแธฅฤ“g mimmaแธฅฤƒneh) directly relates to the strict Mosaic laws concerning ritual impurity, especially leprosy. A person with leprosy was considered ceremonially unclean and had to live outside the camp to prevent the spread of impurity within the holy community centered around the Tabernacle. This isolation was both a physical separation and a symbolic exclusion from the spiritual life of Israel.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of respecting spiritual authority and refraining from gossip, criticism, or outright rebellion against those God has set in leadership. It teaches us that our actions, both good and bad, can have far-reaching effects beyond ourselves, impacting the entire community of faith. Furthermore, it illustrates God's character: He is just in His judgments, but also merciful, offering restoration after discipline, a principle echoed in Hebrews 12:6, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." The communal pause also encourages patience and solidarity within the body of believers, recognizing that sometimes, the progress of the whole depends on the restoration of one.

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

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 24:8

    Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, [so] ye shall observe to do.

  • Deuteronomy 24:9

    Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

  • Lamentations 3:32

    But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

  • Micah 7:8

    Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me.

  • Micah 7:9

    I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, [and] I shall behold his righteousness.

  • Micah 6:4

    For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

  • Habakkuk 3:2

    O LORD, I have heard thy speech, [and] was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
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