Miriam

Biblical Record

Miriam was the daughter of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi and the sister of Aaron and Moses (Numbers 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3).

• The song after the crossing of the Red Sea: In Exodus 15:20–21, Miriam is called "the prophetess." She takes a timbrel (a small handheld drum) and dances with the women, singing, "Sing ye to the LORD." She is the first woman in the Bible to be called a prophet.
• Speaking against Moses: In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron object to Moses' marriage to a Cushite (KJV "Ethiopian") woman. The two ask, "Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses?" God declares that Moses is a servant whom He has singled out, and Miriam is struck with a disease that the New Korean Revised Version renders "leprosy" and the New Korean Standard Version renders "a malignant skin disease" (KJV "leprous"). After Aaron pleads and Moses prays, Miriam remains outside the camp for seven days. The people did not set out until she was brought back in.
• Death: According to Numbers 20:1, Miriam died at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin and was buried there.

Significance Within Scripture

Deuteronomy 24:9 commands Israel to remember what happened to Miriam, presenting the incident as a lesson. Micah 6:4 states that God sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before Israel, counting her among the leaders of the Exodus community. Miriam is not mentioned by name in the New Testament. However, the New Testament name "Mary" is generally understood to be the Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam.

Interpretations and Debates

• The sister who watched over the infant Moses: In Exodus 2:4–8, the sister who watches over the ark of bulrushes and then offers to find a nurse for Pharaoh's daughter is not named. Identifying this sister as Miriam is a traditional understanding; the text itself does not say so directly.
• Why only Miriam was punished: Some interpreters note that the Hebrew verb in Numbers 12:1 is feminine singular and conclude that Miriam led the criticism. Others attribute the difference to Aaron's status as priest. There is no consensus.
• The Cushite woman: Views differ on whether this woman is Zipporah, Moses' wife, or a different woman.
• Women's leadership: Supporters of the ordination of women cite Miriam, a prophet and leader, as one basis for their position. Those who oppose it or urge caution hold that Old Testament examples of prophets can hardly serve as a direct basis for the structure of church offices.
• Extrabiblical traditions: Jewish tradition tells of "Miriam's well," which followed the people through the wilderness because of Miriam. This story appears in the Talmud and other sources but is not found in the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

In Sunday school, Miriam is commonly introduced as the older sister who watches over her baby brother in the story of the infant Moses. Exodus 15 is frequently cited in sermons on thanksgiving and praise for salvation, as well as in sermons connected with the choir. Numbers 12 is often treated in sermons warning against slandering leaders and against envy.