Jesse Tree: Day Ten - Miriam

Tamborine (timbrel) Ornament

Exodus 15:19-21

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Song of Miriam

19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing. 21 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.”

Commentary

15:19–21. It was customary among the Israelites for women to celebrate victory in song and dance (cf. Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6–7). This epilogue once more recalls the epic crossing of the Red Sea, the festive dancing and the refrain of the canticle.

Miriam (Miryam in Hebrew) is described as a prophetess (v. 20) because, together with Aaron, she is portrayed as being a spokesperson of God (cf. Num 12:2) and, as we see here, the composer of this hymn. Deborah is also described as a prophetess (cf. Judg 4:4) and to her is attributed another of the most ancient canticles (cf. Judg 5:1–31). The prophets say that it will be a sign of the messianic age that “your sons and daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28).

Source: The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries. Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

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