Exodus 15:20-21
Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her in dance with timbrels. And Miriam chanted for them: Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.
Midrash
Miriam is identified as a prophetess. Other women designated as prophetess in the Tanakh include: Sarah, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah and Esther [Megillah 14a].
Miriam’s “Song of the Sea” is preceded in the Torah by a longer “Song of the Sea” attributed to Moses, identified with the Israelites praising God’s role in their victory. Miriam’s “Song of the Sea” recapitulates the beginning of Moses’ recitation. Is Miriam leading the Israelite women in a portion of the same song that Moses and the men just sung?
Most biblical scholars agree that Miriam’s passage is one of the oldest passages in the Torah (dating to about the 10th century B.C.E.). A Dead Sea Scroll fragment shows an extended song attributed to Miriam, suggesting that the original “Song of the Sea” should be designated the “Song of Miriam.” Additionally, the “Song of Miriam” is connected to a distinct woman’s song tradition, accompanied by hand-drum and dance. These elements appear in other biblical and extrabiblical texts, always with women (never men) as the performers. Instead of crediting Miriam, the editors or redactors of the Torah may have associated the entire poem with Moses to heighten his importance.