1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married : for he had married an Ethiopian woman . 2And they said , Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses ? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it .
God's Response and Defense of Moses
3(Now the man Moses was very meek , above all the men which were upon the face of the earth .) 4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses , and unto Aaron , and unto Miriam , Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation . And they three came out . 5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud , and stood in the door of the tabernacle , and called Aaron and Miriam : and they both came forth . 6And 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 . 7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house . 8With 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 ?
Miriam's Punishment and Restoration
9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed . 10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle ; and, behold, Miriam became leprous , white as snow : and Aaron looked upon Miriam , and, behold, she was leprous . 11And Aaron said unto Moses , Alas , my lord , I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly , and wherein we have sinned . 12Let her not be as one dead , of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb . 13And Moses cried unto the LORD , saying , Heal her now, O God , I beseech thee. 14And the LORD said unto Moses , If her father had but spit in her face , should she not be ashamed seven days ? let her be shut out from the camp seven days , and after that let her be received in again . 15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days : and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again .
The Journey Continues
16And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth , and pitched in the wilderness of Paran .