Numbers 12:8

“With him will I speak mouth to mouth, etc.] And face to face, as he had done, (<023311>Exodus 33:11); in a free, friendly, and familiar manner, as one friend speaks to another, without injecting any fear or dread, and consternation of mind, which was sometimes the case of the prophets; or without a middle person, a mediator, as Aben Ezra, not by means of an angel, as in some cases, but the Lord himself spake to him: even apparently, and not in dark speeches; the word “apparently”, or “vision”, being opposed to “dark speeches”, shows that this is not to be understood of the appearance or vision of an object presented to the sight, or to the mind, which is denied of Moses, though usual with…”

“with him will I speak mouth to mouth--immediately, not by an interpreter, nor by visionary symbols presented to his fancy. apparently--plainly and surely. not in dark speeches--parables or similitudes. the similitude of the Lord shall he behold--not the face or essence of God, who is invisible (Exo 33:20; Col 1:15; Joh 1:18); but some unmistakable evidence of His glorious presence (Exo 33:2; Exo 34:5). The latter clause should have been conjoined with the preceding one, thus: "not in dark speeches, and in a figure shall he behold the Lord." The slight change in the punctuation removes all appearance of contradiction to Deu 4:15.”

“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…”

“Mouth to mouth - That is, distinctly, by an articulate voice; immediately, not by an interpreter, nor by shadows and representations in his fancy, as it is in visions and dreams; and familiarly. Apparently - Plainly and certainly. Dark speeches - Not in parables, similitudes, dark resemblances; as by shewing a boiling pot, an almond tree, &c. to Jeremiah, a chariot with wheels, &c. to Ezekiel. The similitude - Not the face or essence of God, which no man can see and live, Exo 33:20, but some singular manifestation of his glorious presence, as Exo 33:11, Exo 33:20. Yea the Son of God appeared to him in an human shape, which he took up for a time, that he might give him a foretaste of his…”

“mouth: Num 14:14; Exo 33:11; Deu 34:10; Ti1 6:16 dark speeches: Psa 49:4; Eze 17:2, Eze 20:49; Mat 13:35; Joh 15:15; Co1 13:12 similitude: Exo 24:10, Exo 24:11, Exo 33:19, Exo 33:23, Exo 34:5-7; Deu 4:15; Isa 40:18, Isa 46:5; Joh 1:18; Joh 14:7-10, Joh 15:24; Co2 3:18, Co2 4:4-6; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3 were ye: Exo 34:30; Luk 10:16; Th1 4:8; Pe2 2:10; Jde 1:8 Numbers 12:9”