Numbers 12:15

“And Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, etc.] And so in later times lepers dwelt alone, and in a separate house, as long as the leprosy was upon them, (see <142621>2 Chronicles 26:21); Miriam no doubt was healed at once, but, as a punishment for her sin, she was obliged to keep out of the camp of Israel for such a space of time: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in [again]; partly out of respect unto her, she being a prophetess, and one that went before them, and led them with Moses and Aaron, (<330604>Micah 6:4); and partly for want of the cloud to direct them, which had departed at a distance from them.”

“the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again--Either not to crush her by a sentence of overwhelming severity or not to expose her, being a prophetess, to popular contempt.”

“Miriam, as a prophetess (compare Exodus 15:20-21) no less than as the sister of Moses and Aaron, took the first rank among the women of Israel; and Aaron may be regarded as the ecclesiastical head of the whole nation. But instead of being grateful for these high dignities they challenged the special vocation of Moses and the exclusive authority which God had assigned to him. Miriam was the instigator, from the fact that her name stands conspicuously first Numbers 12:1, and that the punishment Numbers 12:10 fell on her alone. She probably considered herself as supplanted, and that too by a foreigner. Aaron was misled this time by the urgency of his sister, as once before Exodus 32:0 by that…”

“Journeyed not - Which was a testimony of respect to her both from God and from the people, God so ordering it, partly lest she should be overwhelmed by such a publick rebuke from God, and partly lest, she being a prophetess, the gift of prophesy should come into contempt. Numbers 12:16”

“shut out: Deu 24:8, Deu 24:9 and the: Gen 9:21-23; Exo 20:12 till Miriam: Lam 3:32; Mic 6:4, Mic 7:8, Mic 7:9; Hab 3:2 Numbers 12:16”