Miriam the Prophet

Rav Avira taught: In the merit of the righteous women that were in that generation, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt.

(20) Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel [drum] in her hand, and all the women went out after her in dance with timbrels [drums]. (21) And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to יהוה, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.

יהיה נביאך [AARON] SHALL BE THY PROPHET — This must be understood as the Targum takes it: thy interpreter. Similarly, wherever this term of נבואה is mentioned it refers to a person who publicly proclaims and utters to the people words of reproof. It is of the same derivation as, (Isaiah 57:19) “utterance (ניב) of the lips”; (Proverbs 10:31) “it utters (ינוב) wisdom”; (I Samuel 10:13) “he made an end of proclaiming (התנבות)”, which is in the book of Samuel.

Navi comes from a three-letter root. That its alef is a root letter can be seen from the words nevi’im (prophets) (Num. 11:29) and va-yitnabe’u (they prophesied)... Additionally, what meaning is there to, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet (Gen. 20:7) if navi (prophet) means a speaker. Its only meaning is, he is a prophet to whom I reveal my secrets, as in But He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). He enjoys My presence therefore and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live (Gen. 20:7).

Why is Miriam referred to as the sister of Aaron and not the sister of Moses?... This teaches that Miriam already prophesied when she was still the sister of only Aaron, i.e., before Moses was born.

A Sage teaches: Amram, the father of Moses, was the great man of his generation. Once he saw that the wicked Pharaoh said: “Every son that is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive” (Exodus 1:22), he said: We are laboring for nothing by bringing children into the world to be killed. Therefore, he arose and divorced his wife. All others who saw this followed his example and arose and divorced their wives. His daughter, Miriam, said to him: Father, your decree is more harsh for the Jewish people than that of Pharaoh, as Pharaoh decreed only with regard to the males, but you decreed both on the males and on the females. And now no children will be born. Additionally, Pharaoh decreed to kill them only in this world, but you decreed in this world and in the World-to-Come, as those not born will not enter the World-to-Come. Miriam continued: Additionally, concerning Pharaoh the wicked, it is uncertain whether his decree will be fulfilled, and it is uncertain if his decree will not be fulfilled. You are a righteous person, and as such, your decrees will certainly be fulfilled, as it is stated with regard to the righteous: “You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you” (Job 22:28). Amram accepted his daughter’s words and arose and brought back, i.e., remarried, his wife, and all others who saw this followed his example and arose and brought back their wives.

1. Now Miriam became a Neviah because at this point the woman were also worthy to see the Shechina until everyone said "This is my G-d"... As our Rabbis teach us even the maidservant saw Hashem by the sea. Therefore, it says all the woman followed after her because the nevuah started with Miriam and all the woman went in her footsteps and all of them were worthy of nevuah. And because nevuah doesn't rest except with people that are happy and woman have "tzar laida" (labor pains) Therefore they took tamberenes in their hands. And all the woman followed after her with tamberenes and drums so that Ruach hakodesh would come to them.

2. And why does it say the sister of Aharon? Because she was equal to him in nevuah but not to Moshe Rabbeinu as it says, not so with My servant Moshe.

"Then Miriam the prophetess took": Where do we find that Miriam was a prophetess? She said to her father (Amram): In the end, you will beget a son who will be the savior of Israel from Egypt...

"The timbrel in her hand": Whence did they have timbrels and dance (instruments) in the desert? Being tzaddikim, and knowing for a certainty that the Holy One Blessed be He would perform miracles and mighty acts for them when they left Egypt, they readied timbrels and (dance) instruments for themselves.

(1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to יהוה. They said: I will sing to יהוה, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea... (20) Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, picked up a hand-drum, and all the women went out after her in dance with hand-drums. (21) And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to יהוה, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.

In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Miriam, along with her two brothers, provided the Jewish people with the ingredients necessary for redemption. All three led the Jewish people in their own way: Moses by teaching Torah, Aaron by his service as the high priest, and Miriam by teaching the women.

(1) Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had taken [as his wife]: “He took a Cushite woman!” (2) They said, “Has Adonai spoken only through Moses? Has [Adonai] not spoken through us as well?” And Adonai heard it.

Three good gifts they gave to Israel: By the merit of Miriam, God gave the well; by the merit of Aaron, the clouds of glory; by the merit of Moses, the Mana. When Miriam died, the well closed so the Israelites could see that it was by her merit that God granted them the well.