Miriam the Prophetess Foretold the Birth of the Savior

"And Miriam the prophetess took" (Exodus 15:20). Where did Miriam prophesy? Behold, it says, "And the woman conceived and bore a son, and she saw that he was good" (Exodus 2:1-2). She said to her father: a savior of Israel is destined to come forth from you. And when Moses was born, the whole house was filled with light. Her father rose and kissed her on the head and said to her: your prophecy has been fulfilled. But when he was cast into the river, her mother said to her: where is your prophecy now? Even so, she still stood by her prophecy, as it says, "And his sister stationed herself at a distance" (Exodus 2:4). "The sister of Aaron." Was she only the sister of Aaron, and not the sister of both of them? Rather, because Aaron gave his life for her, she was called by his name. And how do we know he gave his life for her? As it is written, "And Aaron said to Moses: please, my lord, do not lay sin upon us" (Numbers 12:11). Another interpretation: she prophesied while she was still only the sister of Aaron, before Moses was born. "The timbrel in her hand." From where did Israel have timbrels at the sea? Rather, because the righteous were confident, from the time of their leaving Egypt, that the Omnipresent would perform miracles and mighty deeds for them, they therefore took timbrels and dancing-instruments in their hands.