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Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus
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32:
JOSEPHUS SAYS THAT WHEN MOSES HAD BEEN RAISED IN THE ROYAL PALACES: he was chosen as general against the Ethiopians; and having proven victorious, received in marriage the daughter of that king, since indeed, out of her love for him, she surrendered the city to him.
WHY WAS IT THAT WHEN BOTH AARON AND MIRIAM SHOWED CONTEMPT TOWARDS MOSES: only she was punished? First, because the woman was more at fault, as both nature and the law place women in a subordinate position to men. Or perhaps Aaron was somewhat excusable because he was the elder brother and held the high honor of being the high priest. Furthermore, since a leper was considered unclean by the law and Aaron was the foundation of the priesthood, the Lord did not inflict the same punishment on him, so that this mark wouldn’t taint the entire priestly line. Instead, through the example of his sister, He instilled fear in Aaron and taught him the same lesson. Miriam's punishment affected Aaron so much that as soon as she suffered it, he pleaded with Moses, whom they had wronged, to intercede and remove the affliction. Moses was prompt to do this, immediately offering his prayer. In response, the Lord, who loves mankind, helped him understand that He had disciplined her not as a judge but as a father, by saying, “If her father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that, let her return.”