And there went a man of the house of Levi. Where did he go? R. Judah b. Zebina said that he followed [lit. went] the counsel of his daughter. A Tanna taught: Amram was the greatest man of his generation; when he saw that the wicked Pharaoh had decreed 'Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river', he said: In vain do we labor. He arose and divorced his wife. All [the Israelites] thereupon arose and divorced their wives. His daughter said to him, 'Father, your decree is harsher than Pharaoh's; because Pharaoh decreed only against the males whereas you have decreed against the males and females. Pharaoh only decreed concerning this world whereas you have decreed concerning this world and the World to Come. In the case of the wicked Pharaoh there is a doubt whether his decree will be fulfilled or not, whereas in your case, though you are righteous, it is certain that your decree will be fulfilled, as it is said: Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee! He arose and took his wife back; and they all arose and took their wives back.
(ב) את התוף בידה, וכי מנין היו להם לישראל תופים ומחולות במדבר אלא הצדיקים היו מובטחים ויודעים שהקב"ה עושה להם נסים וגבורות עת שיוצאין ממצרים והתקינו להם תופים ומחולות. ותען להם מרים שירו לה' כי גאה גאה סוס ורוכבו רמה בים, מגיד הכתוב כשם שאמר משה שירה לאנשים כך אמרה מרים שירה לנשים שנאמר שירו לה' וגו'.
"A timbrel in her hand." Whence did the Israelites have timbrels for dancing in the wilderness? Rather, the righteous trusted in God, they knew that He would perform miracles and mighty acts when they would go forth from Egypt, and they prepared for themselves timbrels and dancing.
"Miriam sang unto them, Sing ye to the LORD..." the verse says that just as Moses sang a song to the men, Miriam sang a song to the women.
had no water: From here [we learn that] all forty years they had the well in Miriam’s merit.