Miriam’s Well


Num 20:1-2

The Israelites arrived in a body at the wilderness of Zin on the first new moon, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there. The community was without water, and they joined against Moses and Aaron.






Midrash

Rabbis associate Miriam’s death with the immediate lack of water. Midrash describes a miraculous well given by God due to the merit of Miriam that accompanied the Israelites on their wanderings in the desert [Avot 5:6; T Sukkah 3:11]. The well was created on the eve of the Shabbat (Mishnah Avot 5:5], a wondrous well that flowed from itself like a rock full of holes [Sukkah 3:11].

The well dried up upon Miriam’s death. Rashi says that this well was the same rock that Moses struck to bring forth water. According to Midrashim, this well continues to provide water either within the Mediterranean Sea [Shabbat 35a] or the Sea of Galilee [JT Kaliyam 9:3, 32(c)]. Miriam is depicted as a central source of vitality, a compassionate leader who cares for Israel’s needs in the wilderness.

In the Rabbinic portrayal, the Angel of Death had no power of Miriam and she died with a kiss by God, a death observed for the righteous [Shir ha-Shirim Rabbah 1:2:5; Bava Batra 17a).

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