Numbers 12

1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, on account of the Cushite woman whom he had taken, —for, a Cushite woman, had he taken.

[Moses’/My older sister] Miriam and [his/my older brother] Aaron were saying this: “Is Moses the only one to whom Yahweh has spoken messages to tell to us [RHQ]? Does Yahweh not speak messages to us two also?” [They told people that] they were saying that because Moses/I had married a woman who was a descendant of the Cush people-group, [but they were really saying that because they (were jealous/did not want Moses/me to be the only leader of the Israeli people)]. But Yahweh heard what they were saying.

2 And they said: Is it only and solely with Moses, that Yahweh hath spoken? With us also, hath he not spoken? And Yahweh heard it.

3 Now, the man Moses, was patient, exceedingly, —above all the sons of earth, who were on the face of the ground.

[The truth was that] Moses/I was very humble. He/I was more humble than anyone else on the earth [and Moses/I had not appointed himself/myself to be their leader].

4 Then said Yahweh suddenly, unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting. And they three went out.

So immediately Yahweh spoke to Moses/me and to Aaron and Miriam. He said, “All three of you must go and stand at the Sacred Tent.” So they/we did that.

5 Then Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, —and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both went forth.

Then Yahweh descended to the entrance of the tent in a cloud [that resembled a huge white] pillar. He told Aaron and Miriam to step forward, so they did.

6 Then said he Hear, I beseech you my words. When ye have your prophet, As Yahweh in a vision, will I make myself known, unto him; In a dream, will I speak with him.

Then he said to them, “Listen to me! When a prophet is among you, I [usually] reveal myself to him by allowing him to see visions, and I speak to him in dreams.

7 Not so, my servant Moses, —In all my house, trusty, is he:

But that is not the way I speak to my servant Moses. I trust that he will lead my people [well].

8 Mouth to mouth, do I speak with him And plainly—not in dark sayings, And the form of Yahweh, doth he discern, —Wherefore then, were ye not afraid to speak against my servant—against Moses?

So I talk to him face-to-face. I speak to him (clearly/using words that he will understand easily), not using parables. He has even seen what I look like. So you should be afraid to criticize my servant Moses!”

9 And the anger of Yahweh kindled upon them and he departed.

Yahweh was very angry with Miriam and Aaron, and he left.

10 And, when, the cloud, removed from off the tent, —lo! Miriam, leprous, like snow! And Aaron turned unto Miriam and lo! …leprous!

When the cloud rose up from the Sacred Tent, Aaron looked at Miriam, and he saw that her skin was [as white] as snow, because she now had leprosy.

11 Then said Aaron unto Moses, —Oh my lord, do not I beseech thee lay upon us sin, although we have made ourselves foolish, and although we have sinned.

Aaron said to Moses/me, “My master, please do not punish us for this sin that we have foolishly committed.

12 Let her not, I beseech thee, remain like the still-born, —which when it is born of its mother, the half of its flesh is consumed.

Do not allow Miriam to be like a baby that is already dead when it is born, whose flesh is already half decayed!”

13 Then Moses made outcry unto Yahweh, saying, —O GOD, I beseech thee grant healing. I beseech thee unto her.

So Moses/I cried out to Yahweh, saying, “God, I plead with you to heal her!”

14 And Yahweh said unto Moses: If, her own father, had, but spat, in her face, would she not, have acknowledged the shame for seven days? Let her shut herself up for seven days, outside the camp, and afterwards, let her be received back.

But Yahweh replied, “If her father had [rebuked her for doing something wrong by] spitting in her face, she would have been ashamed for seven days. [She should be ashamed because of what she has done]. So send her outside the camp for seven days. Then [she will not have leprosy any more, and] she may return to the camp.”

15 So Miriam shut herself up, outside the camp, for seven days, —and, the people, set not forward, until Miriam had been received back.

So they sent her outside the camp for seven days. (The people/We) did not move [to another location] until she returned.

16 Then afterwards, did the people set forward from Hazeroth, and encamped in the desert of Paran.

But after [she returned], they/we left Hazeroth and moved [north] in the Paran Desert and set up their/our tents there.