Kos Miriam (Miriam's Cup) Long Version

R. Jose the son of R. Judah says: Three good leaders had arisen for Israel, namely. Moses, Aaron and Miriam, and for their sake three good things were conferred [upon Israel], namely, the Well, the Pillar of Cloud and the Manna; the Well, for the merit of Miriam; the Pillar of Cloud for the merit of Aaron; the Manna for the merit of Moses. When Miriam died the well disappeared, as it is said, And Miriam died there, and immediately follows [the verse], And there was no water for the congregation....

translation by Soncino

(6) Ten things were created on the eve of the [first] Sabbath at twilight, And these are they: [1] The mouth of the earth [that swallowed Korach in Numbers 16:32], [2] The mouth of the well [that accompanied the Israelites in the Wilderness in Numbers 21:17], [3] The mouth of the donkey [that spoke to Balaam in Numbers 22:28–30], [4] The rainbow [that served as a covenant after the Flood in Genesis 9:13], [5] The manna [that God provided the Israelites in the Wilderness in Exodus 16:4–21], [6] The rod [of Moses], [7] The Shamir [worm that helped build the Temple without metal tools], [8] The letters, [9] The writing, and [10] The tablets [of the Ten Commandments]. And some say: Also the destructive spirits, And the burial place of Moses, our teacher, And the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: Also the [first human-made] tongs, made with [Divine] tongs.

Whence is the name "Water Gate" ? It is so called because through it they take the flask of water used for the libation at the Feast. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says of it: " The waters are dripping," intimating that water oozing out and rising, as if from this flask, will in future days come forth from under the threshhold of the Temple...

....So the well, which was with Israel in the wilderness, was like a rock of the size of a k'bara, and was oozing out and rising as from the mouth of this flask, travelling with them up the mountains and going down with them to the valleys. Wherever Israel encamped it encamped opposite them before the door of the Tabernacle. The princes of Israel with their staves surrounded it, and said over it this song, Spring up, O well, sing ye unto it. Then the waters bubbled forth, and rose on high like a pillar ; and every one drew out the staff of his tribe and family, as it is said, "The well which the princes digged, Which the nobles of the people delved, With the sceptre and with their staves."

"And from Mattanah to Nahaliel ; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth ; and from Bamoth to the valley, etc." - going round every camp of the Lord, and watering all Jeshimon ; and it made mighty streams, as it is said, "And streams overflowed." And they were sitting in skiffs, going from place to place, as it is written, "They ran in the dry places like a river."

If Israel went up on the right, it would come down on the right; if on the left, it would come down on the left. The waters which emptied themselves from it became a great river, pouring themselves into the Mediterranean, and bringing thence all the precious things of the world, as it is said, "These forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee ; thou hast lacked nothing."

translated by Albert William Greenup 1925