La calunnia di Miriam: rilievi su Numeri 12

In the dispute between Moses, Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister is the image of prophecy, and Moses is the personification of the Law and principal authority in Israel. He is defended from the accusation of welcoming a foreign wisdom of which his wife is the image. Bold in her denunciation, Miriam is punished as is appropriate for the crime of slander. The play on words between “slander” and “fetus” explains the curious expression of Num 12:12.