Numbers 12:8

Mouth to mouth. That is, directly, with no intermediary. This expression is similar to “face to face” in Ex. 33:11; Deut. 34:10.

Dark speeches. Sometimes translated “riddles” (Eze. 17:2).

The similitude of the Lord. Not the actual being of God but some visible form that a man could see and appreciate. The word here rendered “similitude” is sometimes translated “likeness” (Deut. 4:15, 16, 23, 25; Ps. 17:15; Isa. 40:18; cf. John 1:18 and 1 Tim. 6:16).

Speak against my servant. The fundamental mistake of Miriam was one of disrespect for, and rebellion against, lawfully constituted authority — in this case, appointed by God Himself. Errors in judgment upon the part of God’s leaders today provide no excuse for withholding from them one’s loyal support. In spite of the fact that Saul sought his life, David remained loyal, in word and in deed, to him as king, saying, “The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 6:11). Though condemning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Christ commanded His disciples to cooperate with them as the appointed leaders of the nation (Matt. 23:3). When a person is tempted to inquire concerning some leader in the church, “What shall this man do?” the Lord replies today as He did to Peter, “What is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:21, 22, Paul’s counsel is explicit. “Dearly beloved,” he says, “avenge not yourselves” (Rom. 12:19), and then quotes Scripture, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Every true disciple of the Master today will be loyal to those in authority in the church, even when it may seem that they have erred in judgment (1 Tim. 5:1; Titus 3:1).