ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף משלי 27:5

Now the nature of this imploration must be understood. If they had sinned and the Blessed One was rebuking them, would it not be to their advantage and honor to inform them first of the sin for which they were being punished? "Open rebuke is goodly" (Proverbs 27:5) — why should there be imploration here? I understand the matter as follows: Prophetic visions were difficult for Aaron and Miriam and outside their natures, for they were not ready for prophecy at all times as was Moses but had to prepare themselves first to receive it. This revelation, however, came to them suddenly, as it is written (Ibid 4): "And the L-rd spoke suddenly…" Moses experienced no difficulty in this regard, for he was always ready for prophecy and there was nothing in his body which was antagonistic to it and which militated against its sudden access. This was not the case, however, with Aaron and Miriam. Therefore, the sudden coming of prophecy was extremely difficult for them. For when one's nature undergoes a sudden change from one extreme to the other, he experiences trauma and pain. The situation of Aaron and Miriam in this respect could be compared to that of one who, after standing in pitch darkness for a long period of time, was suddenly exposed to brilliant light, the result being loss of vision and extreme pain. And because "the Holy One Blessed be He is not harsh with His creations" but was now constrained to employ harsh suddenness to impress it upon them that Moses had acted correctly and they had erred in speaking against him — for, prophecy coming to him suddenly, he had to be ready for it at all times — because of this, He used the term "na," a term of imploration according to our sages of blessed memory, requesting that they excuse, as it were, this sudden revelation, it being demanded by the nature of the situation.