(21) Miriam answered them.--Miriam and her maidens at the close of each portion of the "Song"--i.e., at the end of Exodus 15:5; Exodus 15:10; Exodus 15:12; Exodus 15:18--sang the refrain which is here given--a refrain very slightly altered from the opening verse of the "Song" itself, marking, no doubt, the time with their timbrels, and moving gracefully through a stately and solemn dance. Verse 21. - Miriam answered them. Miriam, with her chorus of women, answered the chorus of men, responding at the termination of each stanza or separate part of the ode with the refrain, "Sing ye to the Lord," etc. (See the "Introduction" to this chapter.) While responding, the female chorus both danced and struck their tambourines. This use of dancing in a religious ceremonial, so contrary to Western ideas of decorum, is quite consonant with Oriental practice, both ancient and modern. Other examples of it in Scripture are David's dancing before the ark (2 Samuel 6:16), the dancing of Jephthah's daughter (Judges 11:34), and that of the virgins of Shiloh (Judges 21:21). It is also mentioned with approval in the Psalms (Psalm 149:3; el. 4). Dancing was practised as a religious ceremony in Egypt, in Phrygia, in Thrace, by the Phoenicians, by the Syrians, by the Romans, and others. In the nature of things there is clearly nothing unfitting or indecorous in a dedication to religion of what has been called "the poetry of gesture." But human infirmity has connected such terrible abuses with the practice that the purer religions have either discarded it or else denied it admission into their ceremonial. It still however lingers in Mohammedanism among those who are called "dancing dervishes," whose extraordinary performances are regarded as acts of devotion. sing ye to the Lord; which is by way of exhortation to the women to sing with her, as Moses begins the song thus: "I will sing unto the Lord": for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea; See Gill on Exodus 15:1, the manner of their singing, according to the Jews (z), was, Moses first said, "I will sing", and they said it after him. (z) T. Hieros. Sotah, fol. 20. 3. T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 30. 2. |