Aliya Summary: The previously discussed purification process is continued, along with an admonition that the impure individual not enter the Tabernacle or Temple until the purification process is completed. Miriam dies in the fortieth year of the Israelites' sojourn in the desert. With Miriam's death, the waters which flowed from the miraculous "Well of Miriam" dried up. The people complain bitterly about the lack of water.
When Aaron dies the Torah says that he died with a kiss from G-d (as opposed to an angel sent by G-d, and as opposed to a painful death), but when Miriam dies it does not say that. Rashi (and the Medrash) explain that they both died the same exact way, but it wasn't appropriate to describe it that way for a woman. How incredibly sensitive!
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