Miriam’s Speech About Moses
A couple of years later, at the end of parashat BeHa’altocha, we find Miriam initiating a conversation about Moses her brother. Even though she meant well and never attacked Moses directly—moreover, according to the plain reading of the text, Moses was even present at the time and took no offense at her words—because of her great spiritual stature, God punished her with leprosy.
Miriam’s improper conduct here is the result of Moses’ having parted with his wife, Tziporah. He did this for a good reason. He was prone at any moment to receive prophecy and therefore had to always be ready for it. But once again, as she did when she was a little girl, Miriam cannot stand the break-up of the holy bond between a husband and wife. This sensitivity is related to the sefirah of foundation, the sefirah that corresponds to the procreative organs in the body.
