Parashah Beha’alotcha Comments (2021)
In this week’s parashah, Numbers 12 recounts the curse of tzara’at—I’ll call it “spiritual leprosy”—that Miriam receives because of the disrespectful way she and her brother Aaron spoke about Moses and his leadership of Israel. But what about Aaron? He seems to escape unscathed. Below are a few thoughts on why this appears to be the case, and why looking deeper suggests another view.
Miriam’s Affliction and Aaron’s Role
On the surface, one might accept the interpretation that since Miriam instigated the lashon hara (evil speech/gossip), she alone deserved the punishment, and that HaShem spared Aaron out of respect for his holy office as High Priest. Some commentaries add that Aaron may also have been stricken—but that Scripture did not mention it explicitly, again out of respect for his position.
Another way to read it is to remember the incident of the Golden Calf and recognize Aaron’s tendency to follow rather than lead. Thus, while Miriam received tzara’at and the divine rebuke, Aaron still bore the weight of God’s displeasure. Yet there is more here.
A Deeper Punishment: The View of W. Gunther Plaut
W. Gunther Plaut, in his commentary on the Torah (1981), argues that although Miriam is punished bodily, Aaron’s discipline is mental and—arguably—more severe. The divine rebuke wounds him; the sight of his sister’s disfigurement intensifies his guilt; and the humiliation of pleading with Moses adds a lasting scar. Plaut suggests that Miriam’s pain is short-lived, but Aaron’s shame endures as a public warning equal to, if not stronger than, Miriam’s visible affliction.
Moses’ Humility and Unmatched Access
Numbers 12:3
“Now this man Moshe was very humble, more so than anyone on earth.”
Numbers 12:5–8
Adonai came down in a column of cloud and stood at the entrance to the tent. He summoned Aharon and Miryam… “When there is a prophet among you, I, Adonai, make Myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream. But it isn’t that way with My servant Moshe… With him I speak face to face and clearly, not in riddles.”
Exodus 33:11
“The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Moses’ radical humility is the key to his intimacy with God. For this reason, the Five Books of Moses are received in Judaism as uniquely authoritative: Moses “writes,” but as if taking divine dictation. Through humility, Moses becomes a clear conduit for God’s will—a shadow and foretaste of the fullness manifested in Yeshua the Messiah.
What Humility Is—and Isn’t
Humility is not being a doormat or suffering from low self-esteem. It is serving others, honoring God above all, and balancing confidence with compassion. John the Immerser captured it simply:
John 3:30
“He must become more important, while I become less important.”
Yeshua’s life defines true humility. He also exposes false piety—religion performed “to be seen.”
Matthew 23:5–7
“Everything they do is done to be seen by others; they make their tefillin broad and their tzitzit long…”
Parallels Between Moses and Yeshua
Both spoke with God, both were prophets, and both were sent to deliver Israel. Moses himself foretold a prophet like him:
Deuteronomy 18:15
“Adonai will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him.”
Yet Moses was not perfect; Yeshua is. Moses offered himself for Israel; Yeshua gave Himself. Moses struck the rock at Merivah when told to speak; Yeshua was perfectly obedient.
Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8, 11
Moses strikes the rock at Horeb; later at Merivah he was commanded to speak, but he struck the rock twice, and water gushed forth.
Humility Opens Access to God
Rule one: humility opens access to God. Rule two: the humbler—and therefore more obedient—you become, the more God can work in you, through you, and for you. Our greatest achievement is to become who God created us to be, not a copy of anyone else.
Proverbs 3:5
“Trust in Adonai with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 22:4
“The reward for humility is fear of Adonai, along with wealth, honor, and life.”
Perfect Humility and the Life of Yeshua
Perfect humility fuses our will with God’s. Yeshua models this union—feeding multitudes, calming storms, and calling us to living faith.
Matthew 14:14–21; 14:29; 17:19–20
Loaves and fishes; Peter walking on water; faith that moves mountains.
John 10:30
“I and the Father are One.”
Many understand this as identity of essence; at minimum, it reveals Yeshua’s absolute alignment with the Father’s will—ultimate humility embodied. He also blesses those who embrace the same posture:
Matthew 5:3, 5, 9
“Blessed are the poor in spirit… the meek… the peacemakers…”
Becoming Clear Vessels
Holy water can flow through rusty pipes—but less rust is best. As our humility increases, so does our usefulness as vessels of blessing. The Brit Chadashah declares Yeshua’s radiant humility:
Philippians 2:8–9
“He humbled Himself… even to death on a stake… therefore God exalted Him…”
In this light, reconciliation and peacemaking aren’t side projects; they are the fruit of humility. Recent efforts at regional understanding remind us that God can open surprising doors when people pursue peace in good faith.
Isaiah 19:23–25
“On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria… Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the earth.”
Metanoia: Beyond the Mind You Have
Bishop Robert Barron notes that “repent” (metanoia) literally means to “go beyond the mind you have.” Humility opens us to this mind-shift—eyes and ears unstopped—so we can receive life in its fullest measure.
John 10:10
“I have come so that they may have life—life in its fullest measure.”
Closing Prayer
Father, we trust You. We trust that You are actively working for our good. Lead us in Your truth; use us to share it with those who are open. Keep us from arrogance and closed-mindedness. Open us to a greater understanding of You, of ourselves, and of our brothers and sisters in the family of Yahweh. In and through Yeshua HaMashiach, Amen.
