The Miriam reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Miriam

Miriam was the sister of Moses. She appears first in the book of Exodus in the Hebrew Bible. She is called a prophetess, and composed a victory song after Pharaoh's army was drowned in the Red Sea. (Exodus 15:20-21) Later, however, she objected to the marriage of Moses and a Cushite (i.e. black) woman (who might or might not be identical to Zipporah). For this, she was struck white with leprosy; she was healed a week later after Aaron asked Moses to intercede for her. (Numbers 12)

Her Hebrew name means either "wished for child", "bitter" or "rebellious". It was very widespread among later Jews, and this is the original source of the names Mary, Marie and Maria.

Mary the mother of Jesus was called Miriam in her own tounge.

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