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Miriam’s WellCOMMENTARY
Miriam’s Well
COMMENTARY
While the Israelites wandered in the desert, the midrashic tradition recounts, they were followed by a miraculous well that provided them with water. Rashi, in his renowned 11th-century commentary on the Torah, associates Miriam with this miracle because after she died, the Israelites had no water.
A Prophet from an Early AgeTALMUD
A Prophet from an Early Age
TALMUD
According to rabbinic tradition, Miriam’s prophetic abilities were clear from a young age. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Megillah names Miriam among seven biblical women prophets and asserts that she received a prophecy in early childhood — even before Moses was born!
The Bypassed ProphetJEWISH THOUGHT
The Bypassed Prophet
JEWISH THOUGHT
Although Miriam helps to lead the Israelites for decades in the wilderness, her death receives relatively little attention in the biblical narrative. In her book, Leadership in the Wilderness, Dr. Erica Brown offers an interpretation of the Torah’s silence with regard to Miriam.
Protector of Baby MosesTANAKH
Protector of Baby Moses
TANAKH
Like all Israelite baby boys, Moses was subject to a Pharaoh’s decree to kill all the Israelite baby boys. The book of Exodus recounts how Miriam protected Moses as a baby and facilitated his adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter.
Defiant Midwife TALMUD
Defiant Midwife
TALMUD
The book of Exodus describes two midwives, Shifra and Puah, who saved Israelite baby boys from Pharaoh’s decree. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Sotah identifies Puah as none other than Miriam, offering several explanations for why the Torah refers to her by a different name.
The Consequences of Evil SpeechCHASIDUT
The Consequences of Evil Speech
CHASIDUT
Miriam is punished in the book of Numbers for speaking ill of her brother Moses. Rabbi Chaim Tyrer of Tchernovitz, in his early 19th-century Chasidic work, Be’er Mayim Chaim, wonders how Miriam, a righteous prophetess, could possibly have committed such a grave sin and draws connections between her actions and the episode that follows in the biblical narrative.
Herald of the RedeemerCOMMENTARY
Herald of the Redeemer
COMMENTARY
The midrashic tradition contends that Miriam knew even before Moses’ birth that her brother would redeem the Israelites from Egypt. Ramban, in his 13th-century commentary on the book of Exodus, describes the events leading up to and immediately following Moses’s birth, including Miriam’s prophecy and reaction.
Miriam’s MarriageMIDRASH
Miriam’s Marriage
MIDRASH
While the Torah does not explicitly mention that Miriam ever married, the rabbinic tradition identifies her as the wife of a prominent member of the tribe of Judah. Shemot Rabbah, a medieval midrash on the book of Exodus, describes the story of her marriage to that Israelite leader.
The Mystical Meaning of Miriam’s DeathKABBALAH
The Mystical Meaning of Miriam’s Death
KABBALAH
Miriam’s death, in the Jewish mystical tradition, had cosmic significance. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, describes how Miriam’s death affected both the spiritual and physical realms.
Miriam’s Song’s Cosmic ConsequencesMUSAR
Miriam’s Song’s Cosmic Consequences
MUSAR
Miriam led the Israelite women in song after they crossed the Red Sea. Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz, in his 17th-century work, Shenei Luchot HaBerit, mystical significance into the women’s song.
Leading the Women in Song and DanceTANAKH
Leading the Women in Song and Dance
TANAKH
While Miriam, like her brothers Moses and Aaron, was also a prophetess and leader of the Israelites people, her leadership was particularly important for the women among them. The book of Exodus recounts how Miriam led the Israelite women in song and dance after they crossed the Red Sea.
Sister to Moses and AaronTANAKH
Sister to Moses and Aaron
TANAKH
Miriam is the sister to both Moses and Aaron, all three of whom play leadership roles in the story of the exodus from Egypt. The book of Numbers provides a genealogical account that establishes the familial relationship between Miriam, Moses, and Aaron.