Miriam

Miriam, elder sister of Aaron and Moses, is traditionally identified with the unnamed sister who watched baby Moses in his basket on the Nile and arranged for their mother, Jochebed, to nurse him (Exodus 2). After the crossing of the sea, "Miriam the prophetess" took a timbrel and led the women in dance, singing "Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has thrown into the sea" (Exodus 15:20–21). When she and Aaron criticized Moses over his Cushite wife, she was struck with a skin disease; Moses prayed the shortest prayer in the Bible, "El na refa na lah", "Please, God, heal her, please" (Numbers 12). She died at Kadesh in the fortieth year of the wandering (Numbers 20:1).

Micah 6:4 names her with Moses and Aaron as the three leaders God sent before Israel. Because the people ran out of water right after her death, the Talmud (Taanit 9a) says a miraculous well accompanied Israel in her merit, "Miriam's well". Many families now set a Miriam's cup at the Passover Seder.