The Expositor's Bible: The Book of NumbersWatson, Robert A. (Robert Alexander)
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Numbers
Watson, Robert A. (Robert Alexander)
Bible. Numbers -- Commentaries
At the same time, those who have had experience of the world and
the many phases of human life must always have a position which the
inexperienced may not claim; and women, as compared with men, must
continue to be at a certain disadvantage for this reason. It may be
supposed that intuition can be placed against experience, that the
woman's quick insight may serve her better than the man's slowly
acquired knowledge. And most will allow this, but only to a certain
point. The woman's intuition is a fact of her nature--to be trusted
often and along many ways. It is, indeed, her experience, gained
half unconsciously. But the modern claim is assuming far more than
this. We are told that the moral sense of the race comes down through
women. They conserve the moral sense. This is no Christian claim,
or Christian only in outdoing Romanism and setting Mary far above
her Son. Seriously put forward by women, this will throw back their
whole claim into the middle ages again. That a finer moral sense
often forms part of their intuition is admitted: that as a sex they
lead the race must be proved where, as yet, they do not prove it.
Nevertheless, the world is advancing by the advance of women. There
is no need any longer for that jealous intriguing which has often
wrecked governments and homes. Christianity, ruling the questions
of sex, means a very stable form of society, a continuous and calm
development, the principle of charity and mutual service.
Miriam claimed the position of a prophet or _nabi_ for herself, and
endeavoured to make her gift and Aaron's as revealers of truth appear
equal to that of Moses. At the Red Sea she led the chorus "Sing ye to
the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider
hath He thrown into the sea." That, so far as we know, was her title
to count herself a prophetess. As for Aaron, we often find his name
associated with his brother's in the formula, "The Lord spake unto
Moses and Aaron." He had also been the _nabi_ of Moses when the two
went to Pharaoh with their demand on behalf of Israel. But the claim
of equality with Moses was vain. Poor Miriam had her one flash of
high enthusiasm, and may have now and again risen to some courage
and zeal in professing her faith. But she does not seem to have had
the ability to distinguish between her fitful glimpses of truth and
Moses' Divine intelligence. Aaron, again, must have been half ashamed
when he was placed beside his brother. He had no genius, none of the
elevation of soul that betokens an inspired man. He obeyed well,
served the sanctuary well; he was a good priest, but no prophet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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