Exodus 15:20
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
God opened a path through the Red Sea to deliver Israel while destroying Pharaoh's army in the waters, and Israel answered with an inspired song of triumph, praise and gratitude ringing out over the sea. Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron and Moses, used her gifts of poetry and music to lead out all the women with timbrels and dances while the whole host, with Moses, joined in united praise. The deliverance was formed into song to fix its precious lessons in the minds of the people through the wilderness journey, so they would remember God's power and care and teach them to their children. Sung to instrumental music with united voices as the people kept step together, the song lifted thoughts from trial, soothed the restless spirit, implanted truth in the memory, strengthened faith, taught order and unity, and brought the people closer to God and to one another.
Deliverance Celebrated in Song
God opened a path through the Red Sea and delivered Israel from the Egyptians and Pharaoh's army, destroying and drowning the Egyptian forces in the waters. Israel responded with an inspired song of triumph, praise and gratitude, with voices ringing out over the waters, as recorded in Exodus 15:1-21. That song was a sacred song of triumph after the Lord's deliverance at the sea, and Miriam and the women's celebration belongs within that response.
Miriam stood at the head leading the celebration, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances and music. The whole host of Israel joined in united praise, with Moses joining in the song accompanied by timbrels. It was a song of thanksgiving for God's triumph and Israel's deliverance.
Miriam is the prophetess, the sister of Aaron and of Moses. She used her gifts of poetry and music to lead the women in celebrating the deliverance of the Hebrews and Jehovah's triumph. This joyful scene at the Red Sea came long before her death in the wilderness after a life of wandering.
Purpose and Power of Song
The deliverance was formed into a song as a means of fixing its precious lessons in the minds of the people as they journeyed through the wilderness. By that song they were to teach their children and to remember God's power and care.
It was sung to instrumental music with united voices while the people kept step together. It lifted their thoughts from the trials and difficulties of the way and soothed and calmed the restless, turbulent spirit. It implanted principles of truth in the memory and strengthened faith. It taught order and unity by concert of action, and it brought the people into closer touch with God and with one another.