The Torah attaches great importance to the brief narrative concerning the Cushite woman, going so far as to exhort, "Remember that which the Lord your God did to Miriam, on the way, when you came out of Egypt". This narrative raises a number of difficulties:
Who is this Cushite woman who is the subject of the conversation between Miriam and Aharon, and what is the problem that they are discussing? What is the connection between the two complaints that Miriam and Aharon raise against Moshe? Why is Miriam more dominant in the first verse, while in the second verse, “they said” - collectively? Further on in the narrative, we encounter more questions: Why is only Miriam punished? And why specifically with tzara'at?
Through an examination of the text, we understand the purpose of this episode- teaching us about the greatness of Moshe, about the severity of lashon ha-ra, and the praiseworthy example set by Aharon and Miriam, who are not ashamed to acknowledge their sin and to recognize their mistake.
