Guide
Miriam, Songleader and Prophetess, in the Early Jewish Literary Imagination
2nd Century BCE–3rd Century CE
Restricted
Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities and the Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael elaborate on Miriam’s role as a prophet (Exodus 15:20), suggesting that she foresaw the role her brother Moses was destined to play in redeeming the Israelites from Egypt. Later in the biblical narrative, after the crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam is reported to have led the women in song, but the biblical text provides just a single verse of the song, in contrast to the eighteen verses of the song led by Moses. A fragmentary parabiblical text from the Dead Sea Scrolls called Reworked Pentateuch presents what seems to be a longer version of her song. (The song appears in Reworked Pentateuchc, the third copy of the document found among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran.)
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Pseudo-Philo on Miriam’s Prophecy
And the spirit of God came upon Miriam one night, and she saw a dream and told it to her parents in the morning, saying, “I have seen this night, and behold a man in a linen garment stood and said to…
Primary Source
Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael on Miriam’s Prophecy
And Miriam the Prophetess [ . . . ] Took (Exodus 15:20). But where do we find that Miriam prophesied: It is merely this: Miriam had said to her father: “You are destined to beget a son who will arise…
Primary Source
The Dead Sea Scrolls on Miriam’s Song
And [Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister,] took [the timbrel in her hand] and all the women came out behind her with [timbrels…