Chapter 11 (Continued) (There is currently no audio for this lesson.)

The Beginning of Woes for the People of God (Continued)

7. THE INSTITUTION OF THE ELDERS (Numbers 11:24-30 [24] And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. [25] And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. [26] But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. [27] And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. [28] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. [29] And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! [30] And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
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1. The Elders are Gathered (Numbers 11:24And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
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2. God Empowers the Elders (Numbers 11:25And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
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1. The cloud comes down.
2. God’s spirit comes upon them.
3. The elders prophesy.
3. Two Remained in the Camp (Numbers 11:26-30 [26] But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. [27] And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. [28] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. [29] And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! [30] And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.
   See All...; Luke 9:49-50 [49] And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. [50] And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
   See All...; Philippians 1:14-18 [14] And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? [15] They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. [16] Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. [17] Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
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1. Eldad and Medad prophesy.
2. Joshua asks Moses to forbid them.
3. Moses calms Joshua.
8. THE PROVISION AND JUDGMENT OF GOD (Numbers 11:31-34 [31] And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. [32] And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. [33] And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. [34] And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
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1. The Wind Brings Quails from the Sea (Numbers 11:31And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
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1. They fell by the camp.
2. A day’s journey on each side
3. Two cubits (3 ft.) high upon the face of the earth
2. The People Gather Them (Numbers 11:32And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
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1. All that day, all that night, and all the next day
2. He that gathered least gathered ten homers.
3. They spread them abroad for themselves round about the camp.
3. The Judgment of God Falls (Numbers 11:33-34 [33] And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. [34] And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.
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1. While it was between their teeth
2. Ere it was chewed
3. God’s wrath was kindled against them.
4. The Lord smote them with a plague (Psalm 78:24-32 [24] And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. [25] Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. [26] He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. [27] He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: [28] And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. [29] So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; [30] They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, [31] The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. [32] For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
   See All...; Psalm 106:13-15 [13] They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: [14] But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. [15] And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
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5. They named the place Kibroth-Hattaavah meaning The Graves of Lust.
9. THE JOURNEY TO HAZEROTH (Numbers 11:35And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.
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Chapter 12

Troubles among the Leaders

1. INTRODUCTION
1. A Continuation of Complaining
1. The chapter begins with the word And , which joins it with the previous chapter showing a continuation.
2. The complaining traveled as shown below.
1. The mixt multitude (Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
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2. The children of Israel (Numbers 11:4And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
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3. Moses (Numbers 11:11And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
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4. Miriam and Aaron (Numbers 12:1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
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2. Division
1. Murmuring against Moses (Numbers 12:1-3 [1] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. [2] And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. [3] (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
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2. The answer from the Lord (Numbers 12:4-9 [4] And 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. [5] And 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. [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. [7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. [8] 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? [9] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
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3. The pleading for Miriam (Numbers 12:10-14 [10] And 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. [11] And 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. [12] Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. [13] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. [14] And 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.
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4. The restoration of Miriam (Numbers 12:15-16 [15] And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. [16] And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
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2. MURMURING AGAINST MOSES (Numbers 12:1-3 [1] And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. [2] And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. [3] (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
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1. Because of His Marriage (Numbers 12:1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
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1. Moses married an Ethiopian woman.
1. Possible identities of this woman
1. Zipporah
1. We do not read of anything happening to Zipporah and we just saw Zipporah’s father with Moses in Numbers 10.
2. Though the main area known as Ethiopia is south of Egypt, it is possible that at this time a larger area of land was called by this name.  This would be hard to prove with scripture.
3. Most commentators will say that Zipporah is the Ethiopian woman.  It is possible that this is done for two reasons….
1. To keep Moses from having a second wife
2. To keep Moses from having married a woman of Ethiopia who was probably colored (Jeremiah 13:23Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
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2. Another woman
1. More likely this was a recent marriage for Moses and hence the murmuring of Miriam and Aaron.
2. This lady was possibly from the mixed multitude.
3. We do not find Zipporah referred to as an “Ethiopian woman” elsewhere in scripture.
4. Though we read about Zipporah’s father in Numbers 10, we have not read of Zipporah in the Book of Numbers and it is a possibility that she is already dead.
5. Even if Zipporah were not dead, God made provisions in the Old Testament for a man with two wives (Deuteronomy 21:15If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
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6. The land of Ethiopia is also called the land of Cush.  The land of Cush is mentioned in a verse with Midian, and it is obvious they are not the same place (Habakkuk 3:7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
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2. Was Moses’ union sin?
1. God did not rebuke Moses, but rather rebuked Miriam and Aaron.
2. God had not commanded His people not to marry Ethiopians (Genesis 24:2-3 [2] And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: [3] And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
   See All...; Deuteronomy 7:1-3 [1] When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; [2] And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: [3] Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
   See All...; Exodus 34:11-15 [11] Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. [12] Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: [13] But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: [14] For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: [15] Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
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3. God comments on the meekness and faithfulness of Moses in this chapter.
4. We would have to conclude that Moses’ marriage was not sinful.
5. We cannot go back in the Old Testament and place on them commandments that had not yet been provided by God.
2. Because of His Position (Numbers 12:2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
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1. Hath the LORD spoken only by Moses?
2. Hath He not spoken by us?
3. The three were leaders (Micah 6:4For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
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3. The Narrator’s Comment (Numbers 12:3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
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1. Moses was very meek.
2. Above all the men upon the face of the earth
3. THE ANSWER FROM THE LORD (Numbers 12:4-9 [4] And 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. [5] And 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. [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. [7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. [8] 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? [9] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
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1. A Summons to Court (Numbers 12:4-5 [4] And 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. [5] And 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.
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1. The Lord spake suddenly.
2. The three called to the tabernacle
3. The Lord came down and called Miriam and Aaron forward.
2. The Opening and Closing Remarks of the Lord (Numbers 12:6-8 [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. [7] My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. [8] 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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1. A regular prophet
1. I will give him a vision.
2. I will speak to him in a dream.
2. Moses
1. With him I speak mouth to mouth.
1. Apparently
2. Not in dark speeches
2. The similitude of the Lord shall he behold.
3. Why were you not afraid to speak against him?
3. Case Closed (Numbers 12:9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
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1. The Lord departed.
2. He did not give Miriam and Aaron a chance to defend their case.
3. This is a difference between man’s court and God’s court.
1. Man always allows excuse for committing the crime perhaps even to the point of justification.
2. God is not interested in why you disobeyed but rather that you disobeyed.
4. THE PLEADING FOR MIRIAM (Numbers 12:10-14 [10] And 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. [11] And 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. [12] Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb. [13] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. [14] And 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.
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1. Miriam Was Leprous (Numbers 12:10And 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.
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1. Miriam not Aaron became leprous.
2. Apparently Miriam was the main instigator in the sin.
1. Her name is mentioned first each time and she is the one punished.
2. Aaron is the High Priest and according to the law of the leper in Leviticus, the leper would be brought to the High Priest on the day of his cleansing (Leviticus 14:2-3 [2] This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: [3] And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
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2. Aaron Pleads with Moses (Numbers 12:11-12 [11] And 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. [12] Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
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1. Aaron repents (Numbers 12:11And 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.
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1. Lay not the sin upon us.
2. Wherein we have done foolishly
3. Wherein we have sinned
2. Aaron pleads for his sister (Numbers 12:12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
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3. Moses Pleads with the Lord (Numbers 12:13-14 [13] And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. [14] And 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.
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1. Moses intercedes for Miriam.
1. Moses forgives the very one who has accused him.
2. The Lord Jesus did this on the cross (Luke 23:33-34 [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
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3. Stephen did this at his stoning (Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
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2. God tells Moses of His disgust with Miriam.
1. If her father had spit in her face
2. God compares His judgment of Miriam with a father spitting in the face of his child.
3. Should she not be ashamed?
1. It appears that God healed Miriam immediately but still pronounces that she should be removed from the camp for seven days.
2. After that she can be received in.
5. THE RESTORATION OF MIRIAM (Numbers 12:15-16 [15] And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. [16] And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
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1. Miriam Returns (Numbers 12:15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
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2. The Delay of the Journey (Numbers 12:15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
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3. To the Wilderness of Paran (Numbers 12:16And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
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