Bible Characters
Miriam the Prophetess: From the Nile to the Song of the Timbrel at the Red Sea (+Quiz)
Watching over a basket, timbrel and dance, and a well that followed through the wilderness.
Miriam the prophetess, the elder sister of Moses and Aaron, is the first prophetess the Bible calls by name. Her story, in the Book of Exodus, is woven with love, faith, and song - and she is one of the prominent figures in Bible quizzes.
▶ Play now: the Miriam quiz — 50 questions per level
Watching Over Moses
When the infant Moses was placed in a basket on the Nile, Miriam stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. In her wisdom she offered Pharaoh's daughter a Hebrew nursemaid - and returned Moses to his mother's care. A young girl's courage saved a leader.
The Prophetess
Miriam is called "Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron" - the title of prophetess is given to her explicitly. Tradition tells that she prophesied even before the birth of Moses that a savior would be born to Israel.
The Song of the Timbrel
After the parting of the Red Sea, Miriam took the timbrel, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dances. She sang: "Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously" - the song of the women alongside the song of Moses.
Miriam's Well
Tradition tells that in Miriam's merit a "well of Miriam" accompanied Israel through the wilderness - a moving source of water. When Miriam died, the water ceased - testimony that the water had been given in her merit.
The Cloud and the Honor
Miriam was counted among the three leaders - Moses, Aaron, and Miriam - "and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam." When she was stricken with leprosy for speaking about Moses, all the people waited for her seven days until she was healed - an honor to the prophetess.
Play the Miriam quiz
Bible Quiz now has a dedicated Miriam quiz — real questions from the bank across five difficulty levels, 50 questions per level, from the easy questions up to the "Super-Rabbi" level with exact verses and numbers. You can also reach it from the character area or the game screen, via the "by hero" button.
FAQ
Who was Miriam?
The elder sister of Moses and Aaron, and the first prophetess called by name in the Bible.
What did Miriam do after the parting of the Red Sea?
She took a timbrel, and the women went out after her with timbrels and dances, singing to the Lord.
What is Miriam's well?
The source of water that accompanied Israel in the wilderness in her merit; when she died, the water ceased.
How did Miriam watch over the infant Moses?
She stood at a distance by the Nile and made sure his mother Jochebed would nurse him in Pharaoh's house.