How the Midwives Earned Houses of Priesthood and Kingship

"And He made them houses" (Exodus 1:21). As for these "houses," I do not know what they are. But when Scripture says, "At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD" (1 Kings 9:10), this refers to the priesthood; and "the house of the king," this refers to the kingship. Thus Yocheved merited the priesthood, and Miriam merited the kingship. As it is said, "And Koz begot Anub and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel" (1 Chronicles 4:8) - this "Aharhel" alludes to Miriam, as it is said, "And all the women went out after her [aharei-ha]" (Exodus 15:20). "The son of Harum" (1 Chronicles 4:8) - this alludes to Yocheved, as it is said, "Every devoted thing [herem] in Israel shall be yours" (Numbers 18:14). And Miriam was married to Caleb, as it is said, "And Azubah died, and Caleb took to himself Ephrath, and she bore him Hur" (1 Chronicles 2:19), and Scripture says, "And David was the son of that Ephrathite" (1 Samuel 17:12). You see, then, that whoever draws himself near, Heaven draws him near.