Miriam Waited an Hour and Israel Waited Seven Days

With the measure that a person measures, it is measured out to him. And so it is also regarding the good: Miriam waited for Moses one hour, as it is said, "And his sister stood at a distance" (Exodus 2:4); therefore Israel was delayed on her account seven days in the wilderness, as it is said, "And the people did not journey until Miriam was gathered in" (Numbers 12:15). And likewise Joseph, and so forth. But are these comparable? There it was a single hour, here it was seven days. Say rather that with regard to the good measure it is not so. Rava said: And so too with regard to the good measure it corresponds, measure for measure, and yet the good measure is always greater than the measure of punishment. "And she stood" (Exodus 2:4): Rabbi Yitzchak said, this entire verse is spoken in reference to the Divine Presence. "And she stood [vatetatzav]" as it is written, "And the LORD came and stood and called as at other times" (1 Samuel 3:10). "His sister [achoto]," as it is written, "Say to wisdom, You are my sister" (Proverbs 7:4). "From afar [merachok]," as it is written, "From afar the LORD appeared to me" (Jeremiah 31:2). "To know [le-de'ah]," as it is written, "For a God of knowledge is the LORD" (1 Samuel 2:3). "What [mah]," as it is written, "What does the LORD your God ask of you" (Deuteronomy 10:12). "Would be done [ye'aseh]," as it is written, "The LORD will make for my lord a faithful house" (1 Samuel 25:28). "To him [lo]," as it is written, "And he called it the LORD is peace" (Judges 6:24). This teaches you that with the measure a person measures it is measured out to him: Miriam waited for Moses one hour, as it is written, "And his sister stood," and the Omnipresent delayed for her in the wilderness the Ark, the Divine Presence, the priests, the Levites, and the seven clouds of glory, as it is said, "And the people did not journey," and so forth.