וַתֵּתַצַּ֥ב אֲחֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק לְדֵעָ֕ה מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה לֽוֹ׃
At tumayo ang kanyang kapatid na babae sa malayo upang malaman kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya.
Kohelet Rabbah
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: A good name is more beloved than the Ark of the Covenant, as the Ark of the Covenant went only three days, as it is stated: “And the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord traveled before them [three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them]” (Numbers 10:33), and a good name goes from one end of the world to the other end. From where do we derive it? It is from David, as it is stated: “The name of David went out to all the lands; and the Lord imposed fear of him upon all the nations” (I Chronicles 14:17). A good name is more beloved than priesthood and kingdom, as priesthood and kingdom lapsed, and a good name does not lapse.
The disciples of Rabbi Abba and Abba Tzidoni said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: The tribes are more beloved in their death than in their lifetimes, as during their lives, it was not stated: “Six of their names,” while after their deaths, it is stated: “Six of their names” (Exodus 28:10).10It was only after their deaths that remembrance of their names became a source of merit for their descendants.
Rabbi Yehuda said: Miriam and Yokheved were the midwives of the Israelites. As it is written: “The name of one was Shifra and the name of the second was Pu’a” (Exodus 1:15). Shifra, this is Yokheved, who would tend to [mishaperet] the children. Alternatively, it is because she procreated [shepara verava].11She gave birth to Moses at the age of one hundred and thirty. Alternatively, it is because the Israelites procreated due to her. Alternatively, it is because they bettered [shiperu] [the Israelite women] with mitzvot and good deeds. Alternatively, Shifra [is the name given her] as praise [of her character], as it is stated: “With His breath the heavens were calmed [shifra]” (Job 26:13).
Pu’a, this is Miriam, as she would make a comforting sound [po’a] to the woman, and the child would emerge. Alternatively, Pu’a, as she would cry [po’a] and weep over her brother Moses who was cast into the Nile, as it is stated: “His sister stood at a distance” (Exodus 2:4). Alternatively, Pu’a, as she revealed [hofia] the actions of her brother.12She prophesied about him before he was born (Etz Yosef). Alternatively, as she stood boldly [pa’at] before Pharaoh and said to him: ‘Woe to you on the Day of Judgment.’
It is taught: A man is called by three names; one that his father and his mother called him, one that others called him, and one that he is called in the book of his lineage.13The book that the Holy One blessed be He wrote, which spans the time from Creation until the culmination of all the generations. One’s name in that book expresses the purpose for which one was created (Midrash HaMevo’ar).
The disciples of Rabbi Abba and Abba Tzidoni said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: The tribes are more beloved in their death than in their lifetimes, as during their lives, it was not stated: “Six of their names,” while after their deaths, it is stated: “Six of their names” (Exodus 28:10).10It was only after their deaths that remembrance of their names became a source of merit for their descendants.
Rabbi Yehuda said: Miriam and Yokheved were the midwives of the Israelites. As it is written: “The name of one was Shifra and the name of the second was Pu’a” (Exodus 1:15). Shifra, this is Yokheved, who would tend to [mishaperet] the children. Alternatively, it is because she procreated [shepara verava].11She gave birth to Moses at the age of one hundred and thirty. Alternatively, it is because the Israelites procreated due to her. Alternatively, it is because they bettered [shiperu] [the Israelite women] with mitzvot and good deeds. Alternatively, Shifra [is the name given her] as praise [of her character], as it is stated: “With His breath the heavens were calmed [shifra]” (Job 26:13).
Pu’a, this is Miriam, as she would make a comforting sound [po’a] to the woman, and the child would emerge. Alternatively, Pu’a, as she would cry [po’a] and weep over her brother Moses who was cast into the Nile, as it is stated: “His sister stood at a distance” (Exodus 2:4). Alternatively, Pu’a, as she revealed [hofia] the actions of her brother.12She prophesied about him before he was born (Etz Yosef). Alternatively, as she stood boldly [pa’at] before Pharaoh and said to him: ‘Woe to you on the Day of Judgment.’
It is taught: A man is called by three names; one that his father and his mother called him, one that others called him, and one that he is called in the book of his lineage.13The book that the Holy One blessed be He wrote, which spans the time from Creation until the culmination of all the generations. One’s name in that book expresses the purpose for which one was created (Midrash HaMevo’ar).
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
To teach us that as one metes it out to others, so is it meted out to him. Miriam waited a short time for Moses, viz. (Ibid. 2:4) "And his sister stood from afar to know what would be done with him" — and the L–rd held back for her in the desert the ark, the Shechinah, the Cohanim, and the Levites and all of Israel for seven days with the seven clouds of glory, viz. (Numbers 12:15) "And the people did not travel until Miriam was gathered back." ... Joseph merited to bury his father, and there was none among his brothers greater than he, viz. (Genesis 50:7) "and Joseph went up to bury his father," (9) "and there went up with him both chariots and horsemen" — Who was there among us as great as Joseph, who was attended only by Moses! ... Moses occupied himself with the bones of Joseph, there being none in Israel greater than he (Moses), viz. "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him." Who was there among us greater than Moses, who was attended by the Shechinah Himself, viz. (Devarim 34:6) "And He buried him in the valley."
Shemot Rabbah
“His sister positioned herself at a distance to know what would happen to him” (Exodus 2:4).
“His sister positioned herself at a distance.” Why did Miriam stand at a distance? Rabbi Amram said in the name of Rav: It is because Miriam had been prophesying and saying: ‘My mother is destined to bear a son who will redeem Israel.’ When Moses was born the house was filled with light. Her father stood and kissed her on her head. He said to her: ‘My daughter, your prophecy has been fulfilled.’ That is what is written: “Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took the drum” (Exodus 15:20). [Was she] the sister of Aaron but not the sister of Moses? Rather, she said this prophecy when she was the sister of Aaron, and Moses had not yet been born. When they cast him into the Nile, her mother stood and struck her on her head. She said to her: ‘Where is your prophecy?’ That is what is written: “His sister positioned herself at a distance [to know]” – to know what would be the fate of her prophecy.
The Rabbis say: The entire verse is stated as an allusion to the Divine Spirit: “Positioned herself [vatetatzav],” alluding to: “The Lord came and stood [vayityatzev]” (I Samuel 3:10); “his sister,” alluding to: “Say to wisdom: You are my sister” (Proverbs 7:4); “at a distance,” alluding to: “From a distance the Lord appeared to me” (Jeremiah 31:2); “to know [lede’a] what would happen to him,” alluding to: “As the Lord is a God of knowledge [de’ot]” (I Samuel 2:3).
“His sister positioned herself at a distance.” Why did Miriam stand at a distance? Rabbi Amram said in the name of Rav: It is because Miriam had been prophesying and saying: ‘My mother is destined to bear a son who will redeem Israel.’ When Moses was born the house was filled with light. Her father stood and kissed her on her head. He said to her: ‘My daughter, your prophecy has been fulfilled.’ That is what is written: “Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took the drum” (Exodus 15:20). [Was she] the sister of Aaron but not the sister of Moses? Rather, she said this prophecy when she was the sister of Aaron, and Moses had not yet been born. When they cast him into the Nile, her mother stood and struck her on her head. She said to her: ‘Where is your prophecy?’ That is what is written: “His sister positioned herself at a distance [to know]” – to know what would be the fate of her prophecy.
The Rabbis say: The entire verse is stated as an allusion to the Divine Spirit: “Positioned herself [vatetatzav],” alluding to: “The Lord came and stood [vayityatzev]” (I Samuel 3:10); “his sister,” alluding to: “Say to wisdom: You are my sister” (Proverbs 7:4); “at a distance,” alluding to: “From a distance the Lord appeared to me” (Jeremiah 31:2); “to know [lede’a] what would happen to him,” alluding to: “As the Lord is a God of knowledge [de’ot]” (I Samuel 2:3).