The sun., 1895-05-19
THE WOM.iS,S BIBLE.

THE WOMIS,S BIBLE.
Another Chapter with Comments hy Mrs.
Elizabeth Cndy Stanton.
Here is another chapter from the woman's
Bible. together with comments thereon by Mrs.
Elizabeth Cady stanton. 1t is Numbers XIII,
l-16:
And Miriam and Aaron spasc against Moses because
OF the Ethiopian woman whom he had married.
. nj they said Hath the Lord indeed SPOKEN only
by Moses hath he not spoken also By us' And tn,
Lord heard It.
s. Cow the man Noses very meek a: owe all
the mei which were upon the face OF the earth.l
8. And the Lord down In the pillar OF the c'o,d
and stood in the door OF the tabernacle and called
Aaron and Miriam: and they both cane form.
4. And He said, Hear now my words: II there he .
prophet among you. I. the Lord. will mako myselt
known unto him in n vision. and will speak unto him
In a DREAM
&. with him will sps Ak mouth to mouth even
parently and not in dark speeches: and the sin,i.
tute OF the Lord shall he behold wherefore then
ye not afraid 10 speak against my servant Moses'
q. And the anger OF the Lord was kindled against
them; and He departed.
10. And TIE cloud depated from the tabernacle,
and. behold Miriam became leprous. white as snow;
and Aaron looked upon Miriam. and. behold, she was
lc.rous
II. And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas my lord be-
seech thee lny not the sin upon US, wherein we have
done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
H. And Moses cried unto the Lord. saying Heal her
now. God. bcseech thee.
Is. And Miriam shut out from the camp
days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam
brought In again.
Here we have the first mention of Moseo's
second marriage, but the name Of the woman is
not given, though she 10 the assigned cause Of
the sedition. However. the historian tells US
later that she was known by the euphonious
name of Zpporah. Both Aaron and Miriam
had received portion of the prophetic genius
that distinguished Moses, and they naturally
thought that they should have some share in
the Government, at least to mako a few sug-
gestions, when they thought Moses made a
blunder. Miriam was older than Moses. and
had at this time the experience OF 120 years.
When Moses was an infant on the River Niis
Miriam was intrusted by his parents to watch
the fate Of the infant in the bulrushes. and tho
daughter OF Pharaoh in her daily walks by tho
river side. 1t was her diplomacy, that secured
the child's own mother for his nurse In the
household Of the King of Egypt.
1t is rather remarkable, II Moses was as meek
as he is represented in the third verse. that he
should have penned that strong assertion of his
own innate modesty, There evidences at
this and several other points that Moses was
not the sole editor Of the Pentateuch, II 1t can
be shown that he wrote any part of it.
Speaking Of the punishment Of Miriam, Clarke
In his commentaries says 1t is probable that
Miriam was chief in this mutiny; hence she
punished while Aaron was spared. A mere ex-
cuse for mans injustice: had he been q woman
he would have shared the same fate. The real
reason was thu Aaron was a priest. Had bs
been smltten with Ieproay, his sacred Office
would have suffered and the priesthood fallen
into disrepute.
AS women are supposed to have no character
to the full extent Of the law. So Miriam wa
NOT only afflicted with leprosy but also shut opt
that m potential @ p motherhood % Should make % women
as class as sacred as the priesthood. in
on the exalted o shs %osBs
her immense influence in moulding the chs..
cradle But
and codes. In constitutions and scriptures in
recorded or verfed in living facts. AS As Glass class.
women were treated among the Jews as an In
ferior order Of beings, just as they are to-day iu
claim to be guided by the win of God.
In this narrative we see thus early woman's
desire to take some part in government, though
denied all share in It's honor and dignity. Mir
lam, no doubt, saw the humiliating distinc-
and lonred for the power TO make the needed
amendments 2; %ni In crltiesing tho diserep;aneies
showed a keen Insight into the common princt-
pls ples Of equity and Individual conduct and great
opinions. qualities most lacking in ordinary
Evidently the same blood that made Moses
flowed also in the veins OF Miriam. AZ daugh.
ters are said to be more like their fathers ard
sons II Ike their mothers, Moses probably inher-
tied his meekness and distrust or himself from
his mother and Miriam her self-reliance and
heroism from her father. Knowing these laws
Of heredity Moses should have averted the pun.
ishment OF Miriam instead Of allowing tho full
force OF Gods wrath to fall upon her alone. II
Miriam had helped TO plan the journey
been accomplished in forty days instead
forty Years. with her 'N counsel T in the
cabinet, the, people might have enjoyed peace
and not always making war on other tribes.
with burnt offerings to their gods. Nj Miriam was
called prophete,s, as the Lord had. on some some
occasions. II Is said. spoken through her. gvihS
messages to the women. After their triutn-
phant escape from Egypt, Miriam led the
women in their songs OF victory. With tim:
brels and dances, they chantsd that grand
chorus that has been echoed and retchoed for
centuries In all our cathedrals round the globe
CATHOLIC writers represent Miriam. las type
OF the Virgin Mary, being legislatrix over the
lsrae!itish women especially endowed with the
spirit OF prophecy"
Then came the children of Israel. even the wholH
congregation into the desert OF Zn In the nrst monhI
and tho people abode In kadesh and Miriam died
there. and was buried there.-Nuni6ers nr.
Eusebus says her tomb WAS to be seen at Ka:
desh, near the city Of Petra, In his time, and
that she and her brothers all died in the Same
yehr, hope TO reappear as equals In the resui-
rtc.iOn.