Miriam, Sister of Moses

“The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.” –Numbers 26:59. “Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women, to nurse the child for you?’” –Exodus 2:7. “And Miriam sang to them ‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.’” –Exodus 15:21-22 (ESV).

We know Miriam best as the sister of Moses, the mighty leader of the children of Israel out of bondage and to freedom. She was also the sister of Aaron, the priest. In her own right, Miriam played a vital role in the Exodus story. Born in slavery, we see her as a young lass being set to look over the bulrush cradle of her little brother Moses. He was saved by the providence of God but there thinking fast and acting was Miriam, ready to do what she could to save her little brother. Can you imagine how frightened Miriam must have been when the Egyptian princess found Moses? Her reaction under pressure was phenomenal.

With all the plagues behind them, the exodus from Egypt and the triumphal crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam is seen as a leader. She leads the women to praise and dance on the safe side of the Red Sea. The words attributed to Miriam have been called “Mariam’s Song,” and they stand in our Bible as a pivotal point of praise to Jehovah God who has the power to deliver from enemies.

But Miriam did not always stand firm with what her brother Moses did. We read in Numbers 12:1-15 that Miriam and Aaron complained of Moses’ marriage to an Ethiopian woman. To marry outside the Jewish lineage was highly frowned upon. God called all three of the siblings to go to the Tabernacle and there the Lord appeared and addressed Aaron and Miriam, reminding them that Moses had been entrusted with God’s ‘entire house,” (leading the household of Israel). “Should you not be afraid to criticize him?” the Lord asked in Numbers 12:8. Miriam was smitten with leprosy, a terrible skin malady considered by many cultures, and especially by the Jews, to be unclean. Moses prayed for Miriam, ‘Heal her, O God, I beg you!” (Num. 12:12). She had to be quarantined for a week, during which time the Israelites did not move forward. But God heard and answered Moses’ prayer for his sister. After Miriam’s health was restored, they traveled again, leaving Hazeroth and proceeding to the wilderness of Paran.

“In early spring, the people of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin, and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.” (Numbers 20:1, NLT). The prophet Micah had words of praise for the leadership of these three siblings at a time when the Israelites were complaining and had little patience. Here is his tribute to them: “For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from your slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.” (Micah 6:4, NLT). At a time in history when women and their roles were not well considered, the prophet linked Miriam’s name alongside that of her brothers Moses and Aaron with the Lord’s purpose for Israel.

Miriam is an example of how one less-in-the-limelight than the leader is vital to God’s purpose. May we make the song of Miriam our own paean of praise: “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously!” (Exodus 15;21a).