Miriam Rebukes Her Father for Sending His Wife Away

"And a man went from the house of Levi" (Exodus 2:1). Where did he go? He went according to the counsel of his daughter. It was taught: Amram was the great man of his generation. When he saw that Pharaoh had decreed "every son that is born," he said, We labor in vain. He arose and divorced his wife, and all the men arose and divorced their wives. His daughter said to him, Father, your decree is harsher than Pharaoh's. For Pharaoh decreed only against the males, but you decree against both males and females. Pharaoh decreed only in this world, but you decree in this world and in the world to come. Pharaoh is wicked, and it is doubtful whether his decree will stand or not; but you are righteous, and your decree will surely stand, as it is said, "You shall decree a thing, and it shall be established for you" (Job 22:28). He arose and took back his wife, and all the men arose and took back their wives. "And he took the daughter of Levi" - it should have said "and he took back." Rather, this teaches that he performed an act of taking in marriage anew: he seated her in a bridal litter, and Aaron and Miriam danced before her, and the ministering angels said, "a joyful mother of children" (Psalms 113:9). "The daughter of Levi" - is it possible she was a hundred and thirty years old, yet Scripture calls her "daughter"? For Rav Hama bar Hanina said, This is Yocheved, whose conception was on the way and whose birth was between the walls, as it is said, "whom she bore to Levi in Egypt" (Numbers 26:59) - her birth was in Egypt but not her conception; and yet Scripture calls her "daughter"? Rather, the signs of youth were born anew in her: the flesh grew tender, the wrinkles smoothed out, and beauty returned to its place. Our rabbis taught: Three looked but did not see [what they thought]. Nebat, and Ahithophel, and Pharaoh's astrologers. Nebat saw fire issuing from his member and supposed that he himself would reign, but it was not so; it was Jeroboam who came from him. Ahithophel saw leprosy shining upon his member and supposed that he himself would reign, but it was not so; it was Bathsheba, from whom came Solomon. Pharaoh's astrologers saw that the savior of Israel would be smitten through water. For Rav Hanina said: What is the meaning of "these are the waters of Meribah" (Numbers 20:13)? These are what the astrologers saw, and they erred: they said "every son that is born," but they did not know that it was on account of the strife at Meribah that he would be smitten. Pharaoh said, While they are little, I will strangle them under my throne.