SUMMARY
Following Moses’ Song of the Sea, MiriamMoses' and Aaron's sister who danced after the exodus. leads the women of Israel in singing and dancing to celebrate Pharaoh’s defeat.
ANALYSIS
It was a customary practice in ancient Israel for women to greet their soldiers with singing and dancing when they returned triumphant from battle. Other Old Testament examples of this custom include Jephthah’s daughter coming out to greet him after he defeats the Ammonites (Judges 11:34), and the women of Israel greeting SaulThe first king of Israel. and DavidSecond king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. after a victory over GoliathThe Philistine giant from Gath, slain by a stone from David's sling. and the Philistines (1 SamuelThe judge who anointed the first two kings of Israel. 18:6-7). In the book of JeremiahProphet who condemned Judah's infidelity to God, warned of Babylonian conquest, and promised a new covenant., Israel is personified as a young woman who, when the exiles of JudahJudah was the name of Jacob's fourth son and one of the 12 tribes. return to the land, will “take your tambourines and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers” (Jeremiah 31:4).
Miriam’s song is almost identical to the first two lines of Moses’ song, and since the opening lines of a song in the ancient world often functioned as its title (much like the hymns in today’s hymn books), it is likely that this is a short-hand reference to the longer song. Scholars believe the longer song was associated with Miriam first, and then was later attributed to MosesProphet who led Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land and received the law at Sinai. and all the Israelites.
