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. My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 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?”
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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. 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. My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. 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?” Yahweh’s anger burned against them; and he departed.
Parallel Translations
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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.
My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
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?”
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And 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.
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
With 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?
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And He said: 'Hear now My words: if there be a prophet among you, I the LORD do make Myself known unto him in a vision, I do speak with him in a dream.
My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house;
with him do I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD doth he behold; wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?'
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Cross-references (73)
- 1 Kings 3:5 (v6) In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”
- Genesis 31:10-11 (v6) During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked,…
- Genesis 46:2 (v6) God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.”
- Deuteronomy 34:10 (v8) Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face,
- Acts 22:17-18 (v6) “When I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of…
Show all 73 cross-references
- Luke 1:22 (v6) When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them,…
- 1 Corinthians 13:12 (v8) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
- Hebrews 3:2-6 (v7) who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also Moses was in all his house. For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses,…
- Daniel 10:8 (v6) So I was left alone, and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; for my face grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.
- Luke 1:11 (v6) An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
- Exodus 33:11 (v8) Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a…
- Ezekiel 1:1 (v6) Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens…
- Exodus 24:10-11 (v8) They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. He didn’t lay his hand on…
- Exodus 33:23 (v8) then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
- Luke 10:16 (v8) Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
- John 14:7-10 (v8) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us…
- John 15:15 (v8) No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I…
- 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (v8) in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the…
- Genesis 15:1 (v6) After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great…
- Genesis 20:7 (v6) Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for…
- Exodus 7:1 (v6) Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet.
- Job 4:13 (v6) In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
- Job 33:15 (v6) In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;
- Psalms 89:19 (v6) Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, “I have given strength to the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.
- Psalms 105:15 (v6) “Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
- Jeremiah 23:28 (v6) The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the…
- Daniel 8:2 (v6) I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and…
- Matthew 1:20 (v6) But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be…
- Acts 10:11 (v6) He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,
- 2 Peter 2:10 (v8) but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to…
- Joshua 1:1 (v7) Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
- Psalms 17:15 (v8) As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
- Psalms 105:26 (v7) He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
- Daniel 7:1 (v6) In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the…
- Daniel 10:16-17 (v6) Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, “My…
- Matthew 2:19 (v6) But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
- John 15:24 (v8) If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now they have seen and also hated both me and…
- Acts 10:17 (v6) Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius,…
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 (v8) But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even…
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (v8) Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
- 1 Timothy 6:16 (v8) He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
- Hebrews 1:3 (v8) His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had…
- Jude 1:8 (v8) Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.
- Exodus 20:4 (v8) “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or…
- Exodus 34:5-7 (v8) Yahweh descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed Yahweh’s name. Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed,…
- Deuteronomy 4:15 (v8) Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire,
- Psalms 49:4 (v8) I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp.
- Isaiah 40:18 (v8) To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?
- Isaiah 46:5 (v8) “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?
- Ezekiel 17:2 (v8) “Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;
- Ezekiel 20:49 (v8) Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’ ”
- Matthew 2:12-13 (v6) Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an…
- Matthew 11:11 (v7) Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is…
- Matthew 13:35 (v8) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from…
- Matthew 23:31 (v6) Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets.
- Matthew 23:37 (v6) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children…
- Luke 20:6 (v6) But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
- John 1:18 (v8) No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (v7) Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
- Ephesians 4:11 (v6) He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
- Revelation 11:3 (v6) I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
- Revelation 11:10 (v6) Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets…
- Exodus 33:19 (v8) He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be…
- Exodus 34:30 (v8) When Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come near him.
- Numbers 14:14 (v8) They will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you Yahweh are among this people; for you Yahweh are seen face to…
- Deuteronomy 18:18 (v7) I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I…
- Matthew 11:9 (v7) But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
- Matthew 23:34 (v6) Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge…
- Acts 3:22-23 (v7) For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to…
- Acts 7:31 (v7) When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him,
- Colossians 1:15 (v8) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- 1 Timothy 3:15 (v7) but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the…
- 1 Peter 2:4-5 (v7) coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv6–8 These were the two ordinary means.
These were the two ordinary means.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Num 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words:…
Num 12:6 And 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.
Ver. 6. In a vision.] To those awake.
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In a dream.] To those asleep: but dreams and visions do soon vanish and fly away. {Job 20:8}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6–8 If you be prophets, as you pretend, yet know…
If you be prophets, as you pretend, yet know there is a difference among prophets, nor do I put equal authority and honour upon all of them. By a vision God represents things to the mind of a prophet when he is awake, as Gen 15:1; 46:2; Dan 8:18; 10:8. By a dream God manifests his mind to them when asleep, as Gen 20:3; 28:12.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–8 And he said, hear now my words,.... The Targum…
And he said, hear now my words,.... The Targum of Jonathan reads, "I beseech you"; and Jarchi says, this particle always so signifies; but it is not so agreeable to the language of the divine Being:
if there be a prophet among you; not as making a doubt of it, but rather allowing that there was, and that there were others besides Moses, as even they themselves, Aaron and Miriam, and the seventy elders, and perhaps others; or at least there had been, and would be again, as there were in later times:
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I the Lord will make myself known to him; that is, declare my mind and will concerning things present, or things to come:
in a vision; when awake, either by day or by night, representing objects to the bodily sight; as the almond tree rod, and the boiling pot, to Jeremiah, Jer 1:11; the visions of the chariots, Eze 23:24, and dry bones, Eze 37:1, to Ezekiel, and such as were shown to Amos, Amo 7:1, or to the mind by night, as if really discerned by the senses; as the visions of the man riding on a red horse, Zac 1:8, and of the four horns, Zac 1:18, and four carpenters, Zac 1:20, with several others shown to Zechariah:
and will speak unto him in a dream; as he had done to Jacob, Gen 31:11, and as he did afterwards to Daniel, Dan 7:1, and many others.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Among you - if you be prophets, yet know…
Among you - if you be prophets, yet know there is a difference among prophets, nor do I put equal honour upon all of them.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Verse 6. If there be a prophet] We see…
Verse 6. If there be a prophet] We see here the different ways in which God usually made himself known to the prophets, viz., by visions - emblematic appearances, and by dreams, in which the future was announced by dark speeches, בחידת bechidoth, by enigmas or figurative representations, Nu 12:8. But to Moses God had communicated himself in a different way - he spoke to him face to face, apparently, showing him his glory: not in dark or enigmatical speeches; this could not be admitted in the case in which Moses was engaged, for he was to receive laws by Divine inspiration, the precepts and expressions of which must all be ad captum vulgi, within the reach of the meanest capacity. As Moses, therefore, was chosen of God to be the lawgiver, so was he chosen to see these laws duly enforced for the benefit of the people among whom he presided.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv6–8 Num 12:6. If there be a prophet among you…
Num 12:6. If there be a prophet among you — If you be prophets, yet know there is a difference among prophets, nor do I put equal honour upon all of them. In a vision — To some the divine will was communicated by strong impressions upon their imaginations when they were awake, but in an ecstasy, as in the case of Abraham, Gen 15:1; Jacob, Gen 46:2; and Dan 8:1-15. Now we never read that Moses was thus entranced in a prophetic vision. He was always awake and quite master of himself when conversing with God, or receiving communications from him. In a dream — To others God revealed his mind by figurative, enigmatical representations, exhibited to them in their sleep; as the ladder which was represented to Jacob in a dream, Gen 28:12.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Vision. Other prophets were inspired in a more mysterious…
Vision. Other prophets were inspired in a more mysterious manner: Moses, though he saw not the majesty of God in any corporeal figure, was instructed by him in the most secret things with the utmost perspicuity, (Calmet) as if a man were explaining his sentiments to his most intimate friend, Exodus xxxiii. 19. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv6, 8 Hear now my words--A difference of degree is here…
Hear now my words--A difference of degree is here distinctly expressed in the gifts and authority even of divinely commissioned prophets. Moses, having been set over all God's house, (that is, His church and people), was consequently invested with supremacy over Miriam and Aaron also and privileged beyond all others by direct and clear manifestations of the presence and will of God.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6–8 6. If there be a prophet — The literal…
6. If there be a prophet — The literal rendering of this verse is, If there be a prophet of Jehovah to you, (that is, if ye have one,) I reveal myself to him in a vision, I speak to him in a dream.
Vision… dream — Trances and dreams are here represented as modes of divine communication, but they do not bestow the highest dignity upon the man who is the organ of the revelation.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–8 6. if there be a prophet among you, I…
6. if there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah &c.] The Heb. text is corrupt. The true reading is probably ‘a prophet among you’ (נָבִיא בָכֶם for נְבִיְאַכֶם, and ‘Jehovah’ must be omitted. Its position in the Heb. forbids the rendering of the R.V. Possibly it has been accidentally transposed, and the verse should begin ‘And Jehovah said,’ as Syr. and LXX. Luc. [Note: uc. The Lucianic recension of the Septuagint.] have it.
6–8. The words of Jehovah (from ‘If there be a prophet’) are couched in rhythmical form, as was the common practice in the utterance of oracles. As they stand in the Heb. text they fall into ten short lines.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–8 (6) If there be a prophet . . .…
(6) If there be a prophet . . . —Better, If there be to (or, among) ycu a prophet of Jehovah, I will make myself known unto him in a vision, and speak unto him. The LXX. and Vulgate connect the word “Jehovah” with the former, not with the latter part of the clause. The mode of communication between God and Moses differed in the respects which are enumerated in Num_12:8 from the mode of communication by visions or dreams, in which God communicated His will to others.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv6–8 If there boa prophet among you I the Lord…
If there boa prophet among you I the Lord will make myself known. More probably "the Lord" belongs to the first clause: "If there be to you a prophet of the Lord, I will make myself known." So the Septuagint, eanhtai profhthv umwn Kuriw ... gnwsyhsomai . In a vision. En oramati . An internal vision, in which the eyes (even if open) saw nothing, but the effects of vision" were produced upon the sensorium by other and supernatural means. (see, e.g., Amo_7:7, 8 Act_10:11) Speak unto him in a dream. Rather, speak "in him wOB. The voice that spake to the prophet was an internal voice, causing no vibration of the outer air, but affecting only the inner and hidden seat of consciousness. It is not necessary to restrict the prophetic dream to the time of sleep; a waking state, resembling what we call day-dream, in which the external senses arc quiescent, and the imagination is freed from its usual restraints, was perhaps the more usual mental condition at the time. Indeed the Divine communications made to Joseph (Mat_1:20 Mat_2:13) and to the Magi (ibid. Num_2:12) are almost the only ones we read of as made during actual sleep, unless we include the ease of Pilate"s wife; (ibid. Num_27:19) and none of these were prophets in the ordinary sense. Compare, however, Act_2:17.
Vers. 6-8. The singular honour of Moses.
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The best commentary on these verses is supplied by the comparison instituted between Moses and our blessed Lord in the Epistle to the Hebrews. (Heb_3:1-6) The Hebrews are reminded that of all the servants whom the Lord raised up to minister in the ancient Church, there was not one who approached Moses, in respect either to the greatness and variety of the services performed by him, or the greatness of the honours bestowed upon him. Moses was set over all God"s house, and in this eminent station he was conspicuously faithful. In these respects Moses was the most perfect figure of Christ. Christ"s priesthood was foreshadowed by Melchisedec, his royalty by David and Solomon, his prophetical office by Samuel and the goodly company of prophets who followed him. But in Moses all the three offices were foreshadowed at once. Of these two men, Moses and Christ, and of no other since the world began, could it be affirmed that they were "faithful in all the Lord"s house." No doubt there was disparity as well as a resemblance. Both were servants. But Moses was a servant in a house which belonged to another, in a household of which he was only a member, whereas Christ is such a servant as is also a son, and serves in a household of which he is the Maker and Heir. This is true. Nevertheless it is profitable to forget occasionally the disparity of the two great mediators, and to fix attention on the resemblance between them, the points in which the honour of Christ the Great Prophet was prefigured by the singular honour of Moses. Hence the interest and value of this text in Numbers.
I AS A FOIL TO BRING OUT THE SINGULAR HONOUR OF MOSES, THE LORD PUTS ALONGSIDE OF IT THE HONOUR BESTOWED ON OTHER PROPHETS. a Consider the prophets that have been or yet are among you. How has my will been made known to them?" Two ways are specified.
1. "In a vision. There was a memorable example of this in the case of Abraham. (Ge 15) Visions continued to be the vehicles of revelation during the whole course of the Old Testament history. Isaiah, (Isa 6 Isa 13, &c.); Jeremiah, (Jer 50, &c.); Ezekiel and Daniel (everywhere). Peter"s vision at Joppa is a familiar example of the same kind under the New Testament.
2. "In a dream. This was a lower way of revelation. The stories of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar remind us that the dreams (I do not say the interpretations of them) were not seldom vouchsafed to men who were strangers to God. We shall see immediately that these ways of making himself known to men through the prophets, were inferior to the ways in which the Lord was wont to reveal himself through Moses. But let us not so fix our attention on the points of difference as to lose sight of or forget the bright and glorious feature which they have in common. "I, the Lord, do make myself known in a vision, and do speak in a dream." For reasons we can only guess at, the Lord was pleased to suffer the nations to walk in their own ways. But in Israel he revealed himself. At sundry times and in divers manners he was pleased to speak to the fathers by the prophets. The Scriptures of the Old Testament are oracular. In them we inherit the most precious part of the patrimony of the ancient Church. For this was the chief advantage which the Jews had above the Gentiles, that "unto them were committed the oracles of God." It is our own fault if, in reading the Old Testament, we fail to hear everywhere the voice of God.
II OVER AGAINST THE HONOUR VOUCHSAFED TO ALL THE PROPHETS, THE LORD SETS FORTH THE SINGULAR HONOUR OF MOSES. It is denoted by the loving title by which the Lord here and elsewhere names him: "My servant Moses." "Were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (verses 7, 8; cf. Jos_1:2; also Deu_34:5) The word here translated "servant" is a word of honourable import; and in the singular and emphatic way in which it is applied by the Lord to Moses, it is applied by him to no other till we come to Christ himself. (see Isa_52:13 Isa_53:11, &c.); The singular honour of Moses is indicated, moreover, by this, that he was called and enabled to do faithful service "in all God"s house." Aaron served as a priest, Miriam as a prophetess, Joshua as a commander, each being intrusted with one department of service; Moses was employed in all. More particularly, Moses was singularly honoured in regard to the manner of the Divine communications granted to him. With him the Lord spoke "mouth to mouth," even apparently, i.e., visibly, and not in dark speeches, and he beheld the similitude of the Lord.
1. When prophets received communications in dreams and visions they were very much in a passive state, simply beholding and hearing, often unable to make out the meaning of what they saw and heard. Moses, on the contrary, was admitted as it were into the audience chamber, and the Lord spoke to him as a man speaks with his friend. (cf. Num_7:89)
2. A few of the prophets, specially honoured, had visions of the Divine glory. (Isa 6, &c.); But in this respect Moses was honoured above all the rest. (Ex 33 Ex 34) In these respects he prefigured the great Prophet, the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, knows the Father even as the Father knows him, and has fully declared him. It has seemed to some learned men a thing unlikely, a thing incredible, that the vast body of doctrine and law and divinely-inspired history contained in the last four books of the Pentateuch should have been delivered to the Church within one age, and chiefly by one man. But the thing will not seem strange to one who believes and duly considers the singular honour of Moses as described in this text, especially if it is read in connection with the similar testimony borne elsewhere to Christ. Moses, and the Prophet like unto Moses, stand by themselves in the history of Divine revelation in this respect, that each served "in all God"s house;" each was commissioned to introduce the Church into a new dispensation, to deliver to the Church a system of doctrine and institutions. In harmony with this is the patent fact that, as at the bringing in of the gospel dispensation the stream of Holy Scripture expands into the four gospels, even so at the bringing in of the ancient dispensation the stream of Holy Scripture originated in the Books of the Law. B.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v6 My servant Moses is not like that
My servant Moses is not like that
"I do not speak to Moses like that"
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He is faithful in all my house
Here "my house" represents the nation of Israel. Being faithful in God's house represents being faithful in leading Israel. AT: "Moses leads my people faithfully" or "Moses is the one whom I trust to lead my people Israel" (See: Metonymy)
So why are you unafraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?
Yahweh asks this question to rebuke Miriam and Aaron. It can be translated as a statement. AT: "You should be afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses." (See: Rhetorical Question)
against my servant, against Moses
The phrase "against Moses" clarifies that he is the "servant" of whom Yahweh speaks. AT: "against my servant, Moses" (See: Parallelism)
translationWords
word
prophet
reveal
vision
dream
servant
faithful
house
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v6 12:6-8 The Lord’s trust in Moses resulted in an…
12:6-8 The Lord’s trust in Moses resulted in an intimate relationship. God spoke to prophets in visions and dreams, but he spoke to Moses face to face (literally mouth to mouth; see Exod 33:8-11, 18-23; Deut 34:10).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.