Miriam Numbers 20 Part 1

Numbers 20:1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation into the desert of Zin in the first month and the people abode in Kadesh and Miriam died there and was buried there."

This was the month of April for us.

Miriam was the brother of Moses and Aaron. There is not a lot about here during these long years of wondering. I expect they were a close knit family though. I don't yet know who her husband was but she was of the house of Levi.

Chapter 26:59 "And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister."

So Miriam had been there from the beginning. I expect she may have been a little motherly over Moses. When Moses was a child and sent into the water in an ark. His sister watched over the ark until Pharaoh's daughter found it then directed her to her own Hebrew mother to nurse the child.

Exodus 2:4 "And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him."

Exodus 4:7 "Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee? v8 "And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother."

So in this tribute to Miriam, we can say she was there. I thought it very brave of her to confront Pharaoh's daughter with such a plan. Apparently she drew no suspicion.

Miriam did make a mistake when she went to Moses (with Aaron) to object to his marriage. Moses was chosen of God to lead the people and Miriam overstepped herself in this.

Numbers 12:1 "And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he hand married an Ethiopian woman."

She also questioned Moses' authority:

v2 'And they said Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it."

Miriam received a severe rebuke and suffered without the camp with leprosy for a time after Moses interceded for her.

Over all Miriam seems to have done pretty well so we will not be too harsh since she suffered her punishment and stayed with the congregation until her death.

Would any of have gone so long without slipping at least once?

Psalm 33:4 "For the word of the Lord is right: and all his works are done in truth."

Bible Study