Cymbal of Hope

In honor of Chof Beis Shevat, Yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushkah A"H

“Miriam took a tambourine, and all the women came out after her with tambourines.” (Shemos, 15:20)

It is understandable that Miriam, a Prophetess, foresaw the redemption, and prepared for herself a tambourine with which to celebrate. Yet, from where did the other women have tambourines?

Since the Egyptians must have had one or two tambourines with which to celebrate at their family festivals, etc. - and we know that the Jewish People took along the riches of the land when they left Egypt - we can answer that, along with all the other things, the Jews took the Egyptians’ tambourines.

Nevertheless, while many women would have had an Egyptian tambourine among their possessions, it is unlikely that all of the Jewish women had tambourines with them, yet, the Possuk says “…All the women came out... with tambourines” ?

Where did all the tambourines come from?

A Jew in the Stars

When Pharaoh’s astrologers predicted the birth of the Redeemer of the Jewish People, Pharaoh ordered all Jewish newborn baby boys to be thrown into the Nile River. On the actual day of Moshe’s birth, Pharaoh extended this decree to the Egyptian baby boys as well.

Why did Pharaoh included also the Egyptian baby boys in his decree?

Rashi explains that the astrologers were unable to see in the stars if the newborn Redeemer was a Jew or an Egyptian.

The question remains: If the astrologers were able to determine that the Redeemer was a boy, and by reading the stars they were able to update Pharaoh when Moshe was thrown into the Nile, why were they unable to get a more detailed description of the Redeemer of the Jewish People? Why weren’t the stars accurate enough to include the crucial detail of his being a Jew?