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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJames Hastings Dictionary of the Bible: Miriam
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MIRIAM.—1. The sister of Moses and Aaron, probably older than either. It was she who watched Moses in the ark of bulrushes (Exo_2:4 ff.). She is called ‘the prophetess,’ and led the women in the song of victory at the Red Sea (Exo_15:20 f.). In the course of the wilderness wanderings she combined with Aaron against Moses, and was punished by leprosy, which was healed in answer to the prayer of Moses (Num_12:1-15). She died in Kadesh towards the end of the wilderness journey (Num_20:1). Her story is referred to in Deu_24:8-9 in connexion with the ceremonial law of leprosy, and in Mic_6:4 she is spoken of along with Moses and Aaron as a leader of the people.
The name Miriam becomes in Greek Mariam and Mariamne, also Maria, our Mary and is probably of Egyptian derivation (mer Amon, ‘beloved of Amon’).
2. A man (or woman) of the family of Caleb (1Ch_4:17).
W. F. Boyd.