6/25/2023 0 Comments Nile river bible definition![]() The Greek name Mary is the equivalent of the Hebrew Miriam. In the New Testament Miriam’s afterlife continues through her name and her deeds. Rabbinic sources give her Caleb for a husband and Hur for a son (but compare 1 Chr 2:19). The historian Josephus deems Hur the husband of Miriam (Antiquities 3.54 see Exod 17:10–12). Jewish traditions, however, cannot tolerate her status as single. Unlike most women in the Bible, Miriam is never called wife or mother. As the inaugurator of a performance and composition tradition of song, drums, and dances in Israel, Miriam continues to resonate throughout its musical life (see Pss 68:25 81:2 150:4). It will go forth again with drums, dances, and merrymakers ( Jer 31:4). Jeremiah says that in days to come, Israel will have a new exodus. Moreover, prophecy includes her, though not by name, within its eschatological vision. Centuries later, prophecy remembers her as the equal of Moses and Aaron in representing God before the people ( Mic 6:8). At her triumphal entry, the living waters of the Red Sea surround her ( Exod 15:19–20) at her demise the wells in the desert dry up ( Num 20:2). Three references to them at her death further underscore their loyalty to her. Despite the instructions of God and Moses, the people refuse to continue the march in the wilderness until the diseased Miriam is restored ( Num 12:15). Her role in saving her baby brother and in celebrating the crossing of the sea highlights her concern for her people. She participates with Moses and Aaron to lead the Israelite community during the exodus and the wanderings. Negative as well as positive traditions about Miriam testify to her prominence, power, and prestige in early Israel. Indeed, she disappears altogether from the narrative until the announcement of her death and burial at Kadesh ( Num 20:1). After her punishment, she never speaks, nor is she spoken to. Whatever her particular disease, Miriam remains a condemned woman, a warning for generations to come (see Deut 24:8–9). This period of time verifies her cleanliness but does not restore her to wholeness. God responds by confining her outside the camp for seven days. Aaron pleads with Moses on her behalf, and Moses appeals to God. Metaphorically, the divine nostril burns in anger to leave her stricken with scales like snow. Though God rebukes both Miriam and Aaron, the deity punishes only her. She understands leadership to embrace diverse voices, female and male. She asks, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” ( Num 12:2). Miriam with Aaron also challenges the prophetic authority of Moses. Most probably, the attack implicates Miriam in a struggle over the priestly leadership of Moses. It may refer to the African country of Cush (see Gen 10:6 1 Chr 1:8) or to Midian, the region east of the Gulf of Aqabah from which Zipporah came (see Exod 3:1, 18:1 Hab 3:7). She may be Zipporah, the known wife of Moses ( Exod 2:21, 18:2), or another woman. Accompanied by her brother Aaron, she speaks out against Moses ( Num 12:1–6), faulting him for marrying a Cushite woman. It belongs to a corpus of women’s traditions that include the long Songs of Deborah ( Judg 5:1–31) and Hannah ( 1 Sam 2:1–10).Īfter the episode at the sea, Miriam surfaces in the wilderness narratives. Contrary to the impression that her one stanza sung at the sea ( Exod 15:1–18) is but an abridgement of the lengthy song attributed to Moses ( Exod 5:1–31), historical and literary studies show that the latter version is itself the Song of Miriam. She becomes thereby the archetype of the female prophetic tradition, even as Moses heads the male (compare Deut 34:10). ![]() Though the meaning of the term prophet is here indeterminate, Miriam is the first woman ever to bear it. Called “the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister,” she leads Hebrew women in singing, dancing, and playing drums. She first appears by name, however, in the crossing of the Red Sea ( Exod 15:20–21). Two genealogies listing Moses, Aaron, and Miriam as the sole children of Amram support the identification ( Num 26:59 1 Chr 6:3). ![]() Many commentators identify her as Miriam. Exodus 2:1–10 features an unnamed sister of Moses who helps deliver him at the Nile River.
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