The Exodus story begins in Egypt as Pharaoh subjects the Israelites to harsh slavery. It commends two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who disobey Pharaoh’s order about killing Israel’s baby boys (Exodus 1:15). Then the focus turns to one particular family.
Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son… (Exodus 2:1-2).
This family is an interesting study in roles. Exodus 6:20 names the man as Amram and his bride as Jochebed. Is this a marriage arranged by relatives? How much personal choice is allowed? Is there a courtship? We are not told. We do know who takes the initiative—he went and he took a wife. Their union results in three children: Aaron, Miriam and Moses (but note the order in Numbers 26:59). As Moses’ older sister, Miriam plays a critical role in his care (Exodus 2). In time, God appoints all three as prophets. Aaron becomes God’s first high priest for the new nation of Israel. Moses becomes God’s great lawgiver and mediator, the leader of the nation. And Miriam becomes a prophetess.
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously…” (Exodus 15:20-21).
Miriam is the first prophetess mentioned in the Bible. (Three others are named: Deborah, Huldah, and Anna, Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Luke 2:36 cf. Isaiah 8:3; Acts 21:9.) As an inspired spokesperson, Miriam plays an important role. In Exodus 15, after the miraculous escape from Egypt, Miriam is leading. Leading whom? Leading the women in their celebration. She is not pictured as leading the men. Nor is her leadership at the same level as her brothers. This is emphasized in a curious incident recorded by Numbers 12. It begins with a domestic dispute but develops into a theological argument.
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it (Numbers 12:1-2).
God summons all three to the sacred tent and re-affirms Moses’ unique role as His leading prophet. Then God shows His displeasure, especially with Miriam.
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and He departed. When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb. And Moses cried to the LORD, “O God, please heal her—please.” But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again” (Numbers 12:9-14).
Questions abound. Why is Miriam singled out? Why is Aaron not punished similarly? Is her life spared because of her brothers’ intercession? Answers may elude us. But of this we can be certain: The danger to Miriam is real, as is the shame. God takes matters of authority seriously. In God’s nation, God assigns the leadership roles; there is no place for self-promotion whether by males or females (Leviticus 16:1-35; 10:1-2).