"Miriam was closed away outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey, until Miriam was brought in" (12: 15).
That "the people did not journey" is attributed to a decision of Heaven. The people traveled only when Hashem indicated that the time had come to travel. In this case, they waited for seven days for a Heavenly directive. They did not travel but it was not their decision. They did not break camp for they received no such instruction. This emphasis in Rashi explains that "Hashem accorded her this special honor".
The connection between Miriam's protective lingering in the reeds watching her infant brother and the migrations of Israel is not clear. Miriam sinned. God punished her. Is this the time for honor? Why would the people honor Miriam at such an indiscrete time? Honor her next week; now seems an inappropriate time.
Hashem had informed Miriam (and Aharon) that they had sinned. They should not have spoken ill of Moshe and his family life. God defends Moshe: "Mouth to mouth do I speak to him, in a vision and not in riddles, and at the image of God he gazes" (12: 8).
What has this to do with the sin or the lashon hara spoken by Miriam about her brother? The Torah explains that Miriam was not really capable of judging her brother. He was, after all, experiencing prophecy in a manner so different and so superior to others, and even to Miriam, that no excuse can justify negative evaluations of his actions. This was her indiscretion! Miriam should have realized that her brother was the great prophet. Hashem intervenes to explain that to her.
Lashon hara begins with the thought that one person has the competence and freedom to pass judgment on another. In this matter, in this case, Miriam was sorely mistaken.
However, the Torah wants to make sure that we understand that the motives (beyond the mistake) were pure. She should not have criticized Moshe, but she meant to do the proper thing and to benefit her brother. This is the memory that we have of Miriam. She stood guard at the river to make sure that no bad was caused to her brother. In this regard she had not changed. She would still do all in her power to protect him as the leader of the people.
Hashem directs the people to show Miriam honor and to remind themselves how she once protected her brother. She had now spoken in a misguided way, but for his benefit, and we remember her in truth: as protector and not as critic. She was mistaken but she remained true to her mission.
Gut Shabbos,
Chaim Brovender
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