1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married ; for he had married a Cushite woman.
2 They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses ? Hasn’t he spoken also with us ?” And Yahweh heard it.
3 Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
Note · Nombres 12.1–3
Ne pas inventer l’identité et les motifs laissés ouverts
Le texte désigne une femme koushite sans expliquer complètement son identité ni le rapport avec Séphora. La contestation s’étend à la parole de Dieu par Moïse. Le passage ne justifie aucun mépris ethnique ; il ne rapporte pas non plus tous les motifs intérieurs des protagonistes.
4 Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting !” The three of them came out.
5 Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam ; and they both came forward.
6 He said, “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
8 With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles ; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses ?”
Note · Nombres 12.4–8
Une proximité de parole singulière
La révélation faite à Moïse est distinguée des rêves et des visions. Cette singularité appartient à sa fonction dans le récit. Elle n’abolit pas toute parole donnée à d’autres et ne permet pas à un responsable de déclarer ses propres décisions infaillibles.
9 Yahweh’s anger burned against them ; and he departed.
10 The cloud departed from over the Tent ; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
11 Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned.
12 Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.”
13 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you !”
14 Yahweh said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days ? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.”
15 Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again.
16 Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.
Note · Nombres 12.9–16
La prière ne se réjouit pas de la chute d’autrui
Aaron reconnaît la faute et Moïse demande la guérison de Miryam. Le texte ne donne pas de raison complète à l’asymétrie de leur traitement. L’attente du peuple rappelle cependant que la marche commune reste liée à celle qui doit pouvoir réintégrer le camp.