Three Faithful Shepherds and the Gifts of Manna, Cloud, and Well

Three good leaders were given to Israel. These are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. And three good gifts were given through them: the manna, the pillar of cloud, and the well. The manna was in the merit of Moses, the pillar of cloud in the merit of Aaron, the well in the merit of Miriam. When Miriam died, the well ceased, as it is written, "And Miriam died there" (Numbers 20:1), and it is written afterward, "And there was no water for the congregation" (Numbers 20:2); and it returned in the merit of Moses and Aaron. When Aaron died, the pillar of cloud ceased, as it is written, "And all the congregation saw that Aaron had died" (Numbers 20:29). And Rabbi Abahu said: Do not read "they saw" but "they were seen" [the people were now exposed to view], for the cloud that had hidden them was gone. The two returned in the merit of Moses. When Moses died, all three ceased, as it is written, "And I cut off the three shepherds in one month" (Zechariah 11:8). But did they die in one month? Miriam died in Nisan, Aaron in Av, and Moses in Adar. Rather, the three good gifts that were given through them ceased in one month. And in the time to come, all three are destined to return, as it is said, "They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them" (Isaiah 49:10). "They shall not hunger," this is the manna. "Neither thirst," this is the well. "Neither shall the heat nor the sun strike them," this is the pillar of cloud. "And by springs of water shall He guide them" (Isaiah 49:10): it does not say "a spring" but "springs." In the time to come twelve springs are destined to come forth for Israel, corresponding to the twelve tribes.