1 And Miriam speaketh — Aaron also — against Moses concerning the circumstance of the Cushite woman whom he had taken : for a Cushite woman he had taken ;
2 and they say, 'Only by Moses hath Jehovah spoken ? also by us hath he not spoken ?' and Jehovah heareth.
3 And the man Moses [is] very humble, more than any of the men who [are] on the face of the ground.
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 And Jehovah saith suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, 'Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting ;' and they three come out.
5 And Jehovah cometh down in the pillar of the cloud, and standeth at the opening of the tent, and calleth Aaron and Miriam, and they come out both of them.
6 And He saith, 'Hear, I pray you, My words : If your prophet is of Jehovah — in an appearance unto him I make Myself known ; in a dream I speak with him ;
7 not so My servant Moses ; in all My house he [is] stedfast ;
8 mouth unto mouth I speak with him, and [by] an appearance, and not in riddles ; and the form of Jehovah he beholdeth attentively ; and wherefore have ye not been 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 And the anger of Jehovah burneth against them, and He goeth on,
10 and the cloud hath turned aside from off the tent, and lo, Miriam [is] leprous as snow ; and Aaron turneth unto Miriam, and lo, leprous !
11 And Aaron saith unto Moses, 'O, my lord, I pray thee, lay not upon us sin [in] which we have been foolish, and [in] which we have sinned ;
12 let her not, I pray thee, be as [one] dead, when in his coming out from the womb of his mother — the half of his flesh is consumed.'
13 And Moses crieth unto Jehovah, saying, 'O God, I pray Thee, give, I pray Thee, healing to her.'
14 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'And her father had but spat in her face — is she not ashamed seven days ? she is shut out seven days at the outside of the camp, and afterwards she is gathered.'
15 And Miriam is shut out at the outside of the camp seven days, and the people hath not journeyed till Miriam is gathered ;
16 and afterwards have the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and they encamp 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.