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321 And the cloud lifted off the Tent; and lo and behold, Miriam became leprous, her skin white as snow. So there it was, clearly stated: It will be through the Proph- ets of Yahweh, appearing to them in a vision or in a dream, that the Lord will communicate with the people. The usual concept of a "prophet" is that of one who engages in prophecies—predictions of the future (in this in- stance under divine guidance or inspiration). But the diction- ary correctly defines "prophet" as "a person who speaks for God" in divine matters, or just "a spokesman for some cause, group or government." The prediction aspect is pres- ent or assumed; but the key function is that of a spokesman. And indeed, that is what the Hebrew term, Nabih, means: a spokesman. A "Nabih of Yahweh," commonly _ translated (and so quoted above) "a prophet of Yahweh," literally meant "a spokesman of Yahweh," someone (as explained in Numbers chapter 11) "upon whom the spirit of God was bestowed," qualifying him (or her!) to be a Nabih, a spokes- person for the Lord. The term appears for the first time in the Bible in chapter 20 of Genesis, which deals with the transgression of Abime- lech, the Philistine king of Gerar, who was about to take Sarah into his harem not knowing that she was married to Abraham. "And Elohim came unto Abimclech in a nighttime dream" to warn him off. When Abimelech pleaded inno- cence, the Lord told him to return Sarah unmolested to her husband, and ask him to pray for forgiveness. "A Nabih he is," the Lord said of Abraham, "and pray he will for thee." Next the term is used (in Exodus chapter 6) in its rudimen- tary sense. When the mission to the Pharaoh was imposed on Moses, he complained that his was a “halting speaking," which would not be heeded by the Pharaoh. So Yahweh said to him: "Behold, as an Elohim I will make thee before Pha- raoh, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy Nabih"—your spokesman. And once again, after the Children of Israel had crossed the Sea of Reeds when it had parted miraculously, Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, led the daughters of Prophets of an Unseen God