Interesting Observation

The Midrash makes an interesting observation related to the death of Miriam. This demonstrates how much can be learned by carefully examining every word of the Torah.

The Midrash points out that by the time Miriam passed away, the entire generation that was meant to die in the desert, were no longer alive.

This is derived from another Midrash that said that every year on the Ninth of Av, the Jews of the desert dug their own graves, and slept in that grave. Many did not wake up.

Miriam’s death indicated that this process of digging their own graves had ended.

We know this from the simple wording of the Pasuk. ותמת שם מרים ותקבר שם, “And Miriam died there, and was buried there.” We see that she received a regular burial, and not the “dig your own grave” burial.

This clever detail was brought by a commentary known as, “Shnei Hameorot.” It only shows how new insights can be found when we study the Torah again and again.