Miriam (Exodus 2:1–10; Exodus 15:19–21; Numbers 12:1–9; Numbers 12:10–16; Numbers 20:1; Numbers 26:59; Deuteronomy 24:8–9; 1 Chronicles 6:3; Micah 6:3–4)

The Prophetess, Sister of Aaron

The sister of Aaron and Moses, called the prophetess, who took a timbrel after the sea and the women went out after her, who spoke against Moses with Aaron and was shut up outside the camp seven days, and who died at Kadesh.

Scripture names Miriam as a child of Amram and Jochebed: “she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister” (Numbers 26:59), and Chronicles lists her among “the children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam” (1 Chronicles 6:3). Earlier, when the infant Moses is laid in the ark of bulrushes, “his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him” (Exodus 2:4), and she offers to call a nurse for the child from the Hebrew women (Exodus 2:7-8). Exodus 2 calls her only “his sister” (Exodus 2:4) and does not give her name.

Miriam is first named after the crossing of the sea: “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances” (Exodus 15:20). In the wilderness “Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married” (Numbers 12:1). The LORD called the three to the tent of meeting, his anger was kindled, and Miriam was found “leprous, as white as snow” (Numbers 12:10). She was shut up outside the camp seven days, and “the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again” (Numbers 12:15).

Her death is recorded in one clause: “Miriam died there, and was buried there” (Numbers 20:1). Later Scripture still names her. Israel is told, “Remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 24:9), and through Micah the LORD says, “I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” (Micah 6:4).

Strengths

• Watchful
• Ready to offer help
• The prophetess
• Leader of the women's song
• Sent before the people

Weaknesses

• Spoke against Moses
• Did foolishly and sinned

Themes

• Sister of Moses and Aaron
• Song at the sea
• Prophetess
• Speaking against Moses
• Shut outside the camp
• Remembered by the LORD

The sister at the river (Exodus 2:1–10)

A sister of the hidden child stands afar off by the ark, and when Pharaoh's daughter finds him she offers to call a nurse and fetches the child's mother; the text does not name her here.

The sister at the river

A Levite woman hid her son three months, and when she could not hide him longer, “she took for him an ark of bulrushes … and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags by the river’s brink” (Exodus 2:3). “And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him” (Exodus 2:4).

Pharaoh's daughter opened the ark and “had compassion on him” (Exodus 2:6). “Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?” (Exodus 2:7). “And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maiden went and called the child’s mother” (Exodus 2:8).

Exodus 2 calls her only “his sister.” (Exodus 2:4) The name Miriam is not given in these verses; Numbers 26:59 names Miriam as the sister of Aaron and Moses.

The song at the sea (Exodus 15:19–21)

After the LORD brings the waters back upon Pharaoh's host, Miriam the prophetess takes a timbrel, the women go out after her, and she answers them with a song.

The song at the sea

“Jehovah brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 15:19).

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances” (Exodus 15:20).

“And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously; The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:21). Besides the sister's words at the river, these are the only words Scripture gives to Miriam alone, and this is the only place that calls her a prophetess.

Speaks against Moses and is called to the tent (Numbers 12:1–9)

Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses because of the Cushite woman, saying the LORD has spoken also with them; the LORD calls the three to the tent of meeting and his anger is kindled against Miriam and Aaron.

Speaks against Moses and is called to the tent

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, Hath Jehovah indeed spoken only with Moses? hath he not spoken also with us? And Jehovah heard it” (Numbers 12:1-2).

“And Jehovah spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting” (Numbers 12:4). He came down in a pillar of cloud and called Aaron and Miriam (Numbers 12:5), and said, “if there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make myself known unto him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so; he is faithful in all my house: with him will I speak mouth to mouth … wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8).

“And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against them; and he departed” (Numbers 12:9).

Leprous and shut outside the camp (Numbers 12:10–16)

The cloud removes and Miriam is leprous as snow; Aaron pleads and Moses cries to the LORD, who has her shut up outside the camp seven days while the people wait.

Leprous and shut outside the camp

“And the cloud removed from over the Tent; and, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous” (Numbers 12:10). Aaron said to Moses, “lay not, I pray thee, sin upon us, for that we have done foolishly, and for that we have sinned” (Numbers 12:11). The text does not say why Miriam was struck and Aaron was not.

“And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, Heal her, O God, I beseech thee” (Numbers 12:13). The LORD answered, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again” (Numbers 12:14).

“And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. And afterward the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran” (Numbers 12:15-16).

Dies at Kadesh (Numbers 20:1)

When the whole congregation comes into the wilderness of Zin and abides in Kadesh, Miriam dies there and is buried there.

Remembered and sent (Deuteronomy 24:8–9; Micah 6:3–4)

Israel is told to remember what the LORD did to Miriam on the way out of Egypt, and the LORD later says he sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before his people.

Moses (Numbers 12:1–2; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 26:59)

Her brother; she and Aaron spoke against him, and Moses cried to the LORD, “Heal her, O God.” (Numbers 12:13)

Aaron (Exodus 15:20; Numbers 12:1; Numbers 12:11)

Her brother, who spoke with her against Moses and pleaded with Moses when she was leprous.

Jochebed and Amram (Numbers 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3)

Her parents; Jochebed bore Amram Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

The LORD (Numbers 12:4–9; Deuteronomy 24:9; Micah 6:4)

Spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam at the tent, was angry with her, and says he sent her before Israel.

Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:5–8)

Found the child in the ark; his sister spoke to her and she said, Go.

The women of Israel (Exodus 15:20)

They went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Major sections

• Exodus 2:1–10
• Exodus 15:19–21
• Numbers 12
• Numbers 20:1
• Numbers 26:59
• Deuteronomy 24:8–9
• Micah 6:3–4

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