Song-of-Miriam
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Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three
versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF),
three brilliant versions, However, the JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
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other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
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Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it
once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our
beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL
YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven
Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Miriam is referred to as the sister of Aaron
because her prophecy began before מֹשֶׁה -
Moshe was born. It is said that she foretold that her mother would give birth
to a boy who would lead the Israelite slaves to freedom. Now, after the
crossing of the sea and the triumphant song of Moshe Rabeinu and Israel, Miriam
adds another level to the revelation at the sea by leading the women in singing
and dancing to the sound of tambourines.
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel (tambourine) in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam sang unto them: ‘Sing ye to יְהוָה - the LORD, for He is highly exalted’”. Exodus 15:20-21. (JPS-1917).
Many have wondered and commented on the difference between these songs. The amazing “Song at the Sea” begins “אָז יָשִׁיר-מֹשֶׁה” - “Az Yashir Moshe” (“Then sang מֹשֶׁה - Moshe”).
Whilst Miriam’s song is written in the present tense, in the plural imperative’;
“Sing ye to יְהוָה - the LORD”: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea”.
With tambourine in hand, the women danced with total liberation, in a way that would only be fully accessed again in the future.
The importance of music and dance in the story of the Exodus:
Some are surprised that the women had tambourines with them! It is hard to imagine that the women, rushing from their Egyptian homes in the middle of the night with only a few belongings and some unleavened bread (Matza), yet they brought tambourines with them. There was no doubt that these righteous women of that generation were so certain that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim would do miracles, that they brought the tambourines with them from Egypt and raise him with great joy!
Whilst at first, Moshe and the people sang together with joy “The Song at the Sea”; Then, thereafter Miriam and the women added the element of dance to their song. That dance was rather like a grateful prayer as the Psalmist quoted:
“All my bones shall say: ‘יְהוָה - LORD, who is like unto Thee’”. Psalms 35:10. (JPS-1917.
Miriam, in her ‘song’, ‘music’ and ‘dance’,
may have accessed a higher state of consciousness than even Moses with his
wonderful song.
The Hebrew word used for dancing here is ‘machol’; meaning the circle dancing of the maidens on ‘Tu B’av’, which is described as one of the happiest days of the year. The same word is used elsewhere when discussing how in the future, the righteous will encircle אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and praise Him. The circle represents the endless joy of the righteous. This is the level of revelation that Miriam and the women experienced. Besides adding the element of dance, “Miriam gathered the women and fused them into a single collective ‘kli’ (vessel) that was so powerful that it pulled down an even higher revelation of new light than Moshe drew down through his prophecy. For as great as Moshe was, an individual vessel is smaller than a collective vessel.
Miriam’s circle of women drew the future into the present, initiating the Jewish nation into the secret truth, ‘promise’, and ‘yearning of the circle world’. The day will come, blessed be He, we will be welcomed by all, when ‘knowledge of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim will fill the Earth (and, by extension, the ‘physical’, ‘material’, ‘body layer of ourselves’) like the sea fills the ocean bed.
Miriam’s name comes from the Hebrew word ‘mar’ (“bitter”), and she certainly experienced the bitterness of the Egyptian exile. An alternate explanation of Miriam’s name is that it comes from ‘meri’ (“rebellion”). Despite being born into the most difficult period of oppression, Miriam rebelled from her earliest age against the slave mentality engulfing her people.
This was the strength of Miriam who had a
feminine strength born out of bitterness; a faith that was shown amid despair.
This was the strength of the women who left
On the strength of Miriam’s deep-seated faith, I believe that, now in our days, we should also be able to celebrate in Shul with ‘music and songs of praise’ (non electric instruments of course), on Shabbat, and share our loving praise unto אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - Baruch Shem Kadosho - Blessed be His Holy Name!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return
to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and
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beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the
following via several of our prophets...
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who
gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
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