Numbers 12 · a question people ask
Why was only Miriam struck, when Aaron spoke against Moses too?
The text doesn't give a reason. Both spoke (12:1-2), both were called out (12:4-5), and "The LORD’s anger burned against them" (12:9). But only Miriam "was leprous, as white as snow" (12:10), and Aaron pleads, "please don’t count this sin against us" (12:11), counting himself in it. Readers answer in two main ways.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Miriam led it
Some read Miriam as the one who began it. She is named first, "Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses" (12:1), and in Hebrew that first verb, spoke, is feminine singular.
Numbers 12:1
The text leaves it open
Others note that "They said" in 12:2 includes Aaron, that the LORD called both of them forward and his anger burned against both (12:5, 12:9), and that the chapter gives no reason for the difference. So they leave it where the text leaves it.
Numbers 12:2 · Numbers 12:5 · Numbers 12:9
The verses
“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only with Moses? Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And the LORD heard it.”
“The LORD spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of Meeting!” The three of them came out. The LORD 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.”
“The LORD’s anger burned against them; and he departed. 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. 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.”