| Miriam- An Amazing Woman
Some thoughts about
the many facets of Miriam's personality, from a variety of sources
Miriam in the Bible
And his sister stood by from afar. (Exodus 2, 4)
(comparison to Reuven, Judah)
Miriam, sister of Aaron took the drum in her hand and all the women went
after her.. (Ex. 15, 20)
Miriam and Aaron spoke about Moshe about the Kushite woman he took...
(Num. 20, 1)
The Sisterhood of Miriam
Miriam waited for Moshe one hour, as it says, and his sister waited from
afar, therefore the Jewish people waited for her 7 days in the desert as
it says, the people did not travel until Miriam was healed.
Miriam by extension
Ex. 17, 12: Aaron and Chur held his (Moses') hands from each side.
Midrash: (When moses went up to Sinai he said, "anyone who has a
problem
should go to Aharon and Chur.) Chur protested the egel hazahav and was
killed.
I have called in the name of Bezalel ben Uri ben Chur of the tribe of
Judah and have filled him with wisdom... Ex. 31, 2
Miriam as kingship
Zohar (Emor 261): Miriam is kingship.
Sifrei Behaal. 78: David is from the descendants of Miriam.
Zohar Emor 116: On Shabbos and Yom Tov evenings the women come and engage
in attempting to understand the Creator. Miriam represents the
Divine Shekina. Yolkut Reuveni Behaalotecha.
Miriam as Prophetess
Alshich Shemos 15, 20: Miriam "the prophetess" took the timbrel
-
because this was the fulfillment of her prophecy that her mother would
give birth to a son who would redeem Israel.
Kli Yakar Ex. 15, 20: Now she became a prophetess for at this point they
received prophecy. Since women have the pain of childbirth, therefore she
took the timbrel in her hand.
The Holy Triumvirate
Zohar Chukat 39: Miriam is the moon, Malkut, Moshe is the sun, chochma,
binah and daat, Aaron is the right hand, kindness, and Chur is
the left hand, Gevurah.
Zohar Chadash Ber. 612: The three are engraved in the heavens...
Talmud Taanit 9a: 3 leaders stood for Israel, Moses Aharon and Miriam, and
3 good gifts were given
Micah 6, 4: And I sent you Moshe Aharon and Miriam.
Ibn Ezra, Ex. 4, 27: Moses was sent to Pharaoh and Aharon was sent
before hand to Israel, and MIriam to the women.
R. Samson Rafael Hirsch Bem. 20, 29: (the verses in Micah juxtapose the
verse of doing justice, kindness,na dwalking humbly with G-d with the
three leaders) Justice was the job of Moses, kindness was the job of
Aharon, and modesty is the basis of womanhood in Israel.
How could she speak against Moshe?
Sifrei Behaal. 78: R. Nathan says she spoke in front of Moshe.
Midrash Rabbah Deut. 6, 6: She didn't even intend only for the mitzva of
proliferation of the species
Why wasn't Aaron punished for the gossip?
Because G-d said, if he is a leper he will be blemished and a
blemished person cannot be a High Priest. Let him see his sister and feel
badly. (this works because of Aaron's great empathy)
What does Miriam mean?
She was the same age as the affliction, 86 years, and she is called
Miriam after the maror. |
