Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Numbers 12:8

8. with him will I speak mouth to mouth--immediately, not by an interpreter, nor by visionary symbols presented to his fancy.

apparently--plainly and surely.

not in dark speeches--parables or similitudes.

the similitude of the Lord shall he behold--not the face or essence of God, who is invisible (Ex 33:20; Col 1:15; Joh 1:18); but some unmistakable evidence of His glorious presence (Ex 33:2; 34:5). The latter clause should have been conjoined with the preceding one, thus: "not in dark speeches, and in a figure shall he behold the Lord." The slight change in the punctuation removes all appearance of contradiction to De 4:15.