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?
I speak with him face to face, clearly and directly, not in riddles or mysterious ways. He even sees my form. So why weren't you afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
God is defending Moses by explaining that He speaks with Moses more directly and intimately than with anyone else, making criticism of Moses essentially criticism of God himself.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Numbers, chapter 12, Miriam and Aaron, Moses' siblings, criticize him for marrying a Cushite woman and question his unique role as a leader. God intervenes by speaking directly to them from the tabernacle, affirming that Moses has a special, face-to-face relationship with Him, unlike the indirect ways He communicates with other prophets. This event serves as a divine rebuke, emphasizing the importance of respecting God's appointed servants.
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