Miriam

Family: Israel · Role: prophetess · First appears: Exodus 15

In Exodus 15, Miriam, a prophetess of Israel and sister of Aaron, led the women in worship with timbrels and dances, proclaiming, “Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” Numbers 26 identifies her as the sister of Aaron and Moses, born to Amram and Jochebed.

In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, challenging his unique authority before God because of his Ethiopian wife. God summoned the three to the tabernacle, became angry with Miriam and Aaron, and judged Miriam with leprosy. Moses pleaded, “Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.” Miriam remained outside the camp for seven days, during which the people did not journey; afterward she was received back and the journey continued.

At Kadesh in Numbers 20, Miriam died and was buried. Deuteronomy 24 later recalled the judgment God brought upon Miriam after Israel came forth from Egypt.

Relationship record

Life events

• Miriam led the women in worship and proclaimed God’s triumph over Egypt.(Exodus 15)
  • With: God
  • “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. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”
• Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, challenging his unique authority before God.(Numbers 12)
  • With: Aaron Moses
  • “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.”
• God judged Miriam with leprosy after becoming angry with her and Aaron.(Numbers 12)
  • With: God
  • “And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”
• Moses pleaded with God to heal Miriam.(Numbers 12)
  • With: Moses God
  • “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.”
• God commanded Miriam to remain excluded from the camp for seven days.(Numbers 12)
  • With: God
  • “let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.”
• Miriam was shut out from the camp, halting the people's journey.(Numbers 12)
  • “And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.”
• Miriam was received back into the camp, allowing the people to journey onward.(Numbers 12)
  • “and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.”
• Miriam died and was buried at Kadesh.(Numbers 20 · 📍 Kadesh)
  • “and Miriam died there, and was buried there.”
• God judged Miriam after Israel came forth from Egypt.(Deuteronomy 24)
  • With: God
  • “Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.”

Exodus 15

• siblings with Aaron “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.”
• deity: God “And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”

Numbers 12

• with Moses (Miriam spoke against Moses.) “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.”
• commander: God (God commanded Miriam to come to the tabernacle.) “And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation.”
• judge: God (Miriam was judged with leprosy.) “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”
• with Moses (Moses interceded for Miriam's healing.) “And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.”

Numbers 26

• parent: Amram “and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.”
• parent: Jochebed “and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.”

Deuteronomy 24

• judge: God (The chapter recalls God's judgment upon Miriam.) “Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Five Books of Moses. Made with Rho MD.