PARASHAT BESHALACH

THE SONG OF THE WOMEN AT THE SEA

And Miriam the prophetess, Aharon's sister, took the drum in her hand, and all the women went after her with drums and dances (Shemot 15:20) The song of Miriam and the women is mentioned after the Torah has described the song of Moshe and the men at the sea. Why is the entire first verse of the Song of the Sea repeated by Miriam and the women who joined her? Malbim, based on Chazal, explains that the women's song is mentioned separately to emphasize that since the Exodus took place in the merit of the women of that generation, they had their own prophecy at the sea.

MIRIAM THE PROPHETESS

The Torah calls Miriam "the prophetess" at the splitting of the sea and the Gemara enumerates her as one of the 7 prophetesses. She prophesied that her mother would give birth to a son who would redeem Israel. When Moshe was born and the house was filled with light, her father got up, kissed her and said, "My daughter, your prophecy has been fulfilled." When they put him in the Nile, her father rose, stroked her head and asked, "My daughter, what will become of your prophecy?" Therefore, it states, "and his sister stood from afar" to find out what would be the end of her prophecy." (Megillah 14a) According to the Gemara, it is not clear why Miriam was called a prophetess at the sea rather than prior to the birth of Moshe, when she originally prophesied. Etz Yosef explains that only at the culmination of the Exodus, was it certain that Miriam's prophecy had been fulfilled. Rabbeinu Bachaya notes that Miriam is the first person to be called a prophet in the Torah. The reason why prophecy is mentioned first by a woman, is to emphasize the great level of prophecy that women attained at the sea, as it states: "A maidservant at the sea saw more than even Yechezkiel ben Buzi" (Mechilta Beshalach 3). Kli Yakar agrees that Miriam became a prophetess at the splitting of the sea, since the women merited seeing the Shechina then. They played drums and danced in order to draw down the spirit of prophecy, since the Divine Presence only rests on us when we are full of happiness. Rabbeinu Bachaya concludes that important matters in the Torah are often expressed through women. For example, the concept of "the world to come", is called the bundle of life by Avigail (1 Shmuel 25:29). Chana taught the notion of the revival of the dead (1 Shmuel 2:6), and the order of prayer. Reincarnation is alluded to by the woman from Tekoah. (2 Shmuel 14:14) All this shows the importance of the role of women.

For the complete dvar Torah, please send email to berot@netvision.net.il.

*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******
Presented by Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin Wellsprings of Jewish Learning.