Why does the Pasuk refer to Miriam as "Miriam ha'Nevi'ah"?
Rashi: Because she prophesied the birth of Moshe. 1
Rashbam: Because someone who rebukes or someone who sings the praises of Hashem is also called a prophet.
Refer to Shemos 2:2:1:1** and 2:4:1:3; and see below 15:20:2.1 .
Why does the Torah refer to Miriam here as 'the sister of Aharon'?
Rashi #1 and R. Bachye #1 (citing Sotah 12b & 13a): Because it was when she was the sister only of Aharon, before Moshe was born, that she prophesied. 1
Rashi #2: Her name is connected to that of Aharon, who was Moser Nefesh on her behalf when she was later stricken with Tzara'as. 2 3
Ramban #1 and R. Bachye #2: Since Moshe and Miriam are mentioned in the Shirah, but not Aharon, the Torah calls Miriam "Achos Aharon," in order to mention his name too.
Ramban #2, R. Bachye #3 and Rashbam: It is the way of Tanach 4 to connect a person to his older brother (the Bechor - Rashbam). 5
R. Bachye #3: Because she took a drum (Tof) ? which corresponds to the Mazal Tzedek, which inturn, is the Mazal of Aharon. 6
Hadar Zekenim (in Pasuk 19): It is normal to associate a woman with her older brother.
See Bamidbar 12:11.
See Torah Temimah note 33, who explains why the Torah mentions the fact here and not earlier. See also R.Bachye.
Ramban: See for example, Divrei Hayamim I 2:42 . Refer also to Bereishis 28:9:3:2* .
Ramban: And it did so in a way that was a Kavod for him, in that he was Miriam's older brother. and that Miriam his sister was a prophetess, seeing as he too, was a Navi and a Kedosh Hashem.
See R. Bachye who elaborates and the references cited in R. Chavel's footnotes.
What is the definition of "Tupim u'Mecholos"?
Rashi (in Eruvin 3b): 'Drums and dances.'
Targum Yonasan and R. Bachye (in 32:19): 'Drums and flutes.' 1
See Na'ar Yonasan in Shemos 32:19.
Why did the women take musical instruments with them into the desert?
Rashi: The righteous women of that generation took musical instruments out of Egypt with them, in anticipation of the miracles that they were convinced Hashem would perform with them.
R. Bachye: With reference to 15:20:3:2 ? All the women concerned were wise, 1 However, wheres those who took drums were righteous, whereas those who took flutes ? which correspond to Mazal Ma'adim - had bad intentions ? like the men who worshipped the Golden Calf. 2
Tif'eres Yonasan and Ma'ayanah Shel Torah: So that the men should not hear them singing - due to the principle 'Kol be'Ishah Ervah.'
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Miriam ha'Nevi'ah' - When did she prophesy? When she was 'the sister of Aharon' - before Moshe was born. She said, 'My mother is destined to give birth to a son, who will be the redeemer of Yisrael." Why was this prophecy given to Miriam specifically, not to Aharon?
Maharal #1 (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 16, p. 75): Moshe and Aharon served together 1 as the redeemers of Yisrael; and a prophet does not prophecy regarding himself. The message had to come through someone else - Miriam.
Maharal #2 (ibid.): Prior to Moshe's birth, Aharon was not yet even three years old! 2 He was not yet at the age of recognizing his Creator. 3
Maharal (Netzach Yisrael Ch. 54, p. 201): Still, Moshe and Aharon each had his own task. Miriam, for her part, represented the yearning for the Redemption on the part of Bnei Yisrael. (She was not a 'redeemer' in the active sense; rather, her role was to bring Yisrael towards Emunah, in the merit of which the Redemption would come. (EK))
Aharon was older than Moshe by three years (Shemos 7:7).
But see Shemos 2:1:3.01:2* .
