Numbers 12

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

1Miriam and Aaron said unkind things about their brother Moses. It was because of the woman Moses had married. She came from Cush, a land far to the south.

NoteThe KJV says "Ethiopian." The old Hebrew word is "Cushite," a woman from Cush, a land south of Egypt.

2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

2They said, "Has the LORD only spoken through Moses? Has He not spoken through us too?" And the LORD heard them say it.

3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

3Now Moses was a very humble man. He was more humble than anyone else on earth.

NoteThe KJV word is "meek." Today "meek" can sound like weak or shy. Here it means humble: Moses did not brag or push himself forward.

4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

4Right away the LORD spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. He said, "You three come out to the tent where I meet My people." So all three came out.

5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

5The LORD came down in a tall cloud. He stood at the door of the tent. He called Aaron and Miriam, and they both stepped forward.

6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

6He said, "Listen to My words. When there is a prophet among you, someone who tells people what I say, I show Myself to him in a picture he sees. I speak to him in a dream.

7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

7But it is not that way with My servant Moses. He is faithful in all My house.

8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

8With him I speak face to face. I speak clearly, not in puzzles. He sees what the LORD looks like. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?"

NoteThe KJV says "mouth to mouth" and "dark speeches." It means God spoke to Moses directly and plainly, not in riddles.

9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

9The LORD was very angry with them. Then He went away.

10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

10The cloud lifted up off the tent. Miriam's skin turned white as snow with a bad skin disease. Aaron looked at her and saw she was sick.

11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

11Aaron said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold this sin against us. We were foolish, and we did wrong.

12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.

12Please do not let her stay like a baby born dead. Do not let her body waste away."

13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

13So Moses called out to the LORD. He said, "O God, please heal her now!"

14And 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.

14The LORD said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, she would feel shame for seven days. So keep her outside the camp for seven days. After that she may come back in."

15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

15Miriam stayed outside the camp for seven days. The people did not travel until she came back.

16And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

16After that the people left Hazeroth. They set up camp in the dry, empty land of Paran.