Chapter 7
Miriam
Miriam was Aharon and Moshe’s older sister. The
year of her birth is 2361. She died in the year
2487, on the tenth of Nissan, at the age of 126 (Seder
Olam Rabbah 3).
Miriam was the second of the seven prophetesses
(Megillah 14a). She was the one who prophesied, “My
mother [Yocheved] will have a son who will redeem
the Jews” (ibid.). Furthermore, she was the one who
helped bring about his actual birth. How so? Her father,
Amram, a great leader of the generation, decided
to divorce his wife, Yocheved, rather than to bring children
into the world at a time when all baby boys were
being killed as a result of Pharaoh’s decree. However,
Miriam protested and urged her father to reconsider.
He followed her advice and remarried Yocheved, and
thus Moshe was born.
Just as Moshe and Aharon were the leaders of the
men in the desert, Miriam was the leader of the women
(see Shemos 15:20–21 and Taanis 9a; Targum, Michah 6:4).
She was the one who led the women in bringing out
drums and other musical instruments from Egypt to
celebrate the miracle of the splitting of the sea (see
Shemos 15:20).
The water that was supplied for the Jews in the
desert was in Miriam’s merit (Taanis 9a). As proof of
this, we note that immediately after Miriam died, there
was a lack of water (see Bemidbar 20:1–2).
Miriam married Kalev. Her great-grandson was
Betzalel, who constructed the Mishkan and all its vessels.
Betzalel was also an ancestor of DavidHaMelech.
One-minute message: Miriam’s influence on history
is quite significant, yet it is always somewhat
in the background. When Moshe Rabbeinu was a
baby and his mother, Yocheved, was forced to put
him in the Nile in a basket, the Torah declares,
“His sister stood from afar to know what would
happen to him” (Shemos 2:4). Miriam ensured
Moshe’s safety and helped Pharaoh’s daughter,
Bisyah, provide for Moshe by bringing Yocheved,
their mother, to nurse the infant.Miriam was also
one of the midwives who, with her mother, aided
in the growth of the Jewish nation (see Shemos
1:15). We have already mentioned that Miriam led
the women and taught them to serve Hashem and
that there was water for the nation in her merit.
Miriam was content in her role, but excelled in
all of her efforts. Just as there was only one Moshe
Rabbeinu, there was only one Aharon HaKohen
and only one Miriam HaNeviah. Success in life is
not necessarily measured by the number of
awards one receives. Success is measured from
within. When you can truthfully say that you have
fulfilled the will of Hashem to the best of your
abilities, then you are successful - whether the
rest of the world notices it or not.
You are a unique individual. You have a mission
in life that only you can accomplish. Therefore,
do not seek to be someone you are not or aspire
to greatness by attempting to accomplish
missions destined for others. Be yourself!
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