traveled to Judah ±113 km south as the crow flies. YHWH allocated the area in and around
Jerusalem to the tribe of Judah. This is the area where the priests lived—close enough to the Temple to do
their Temple service, and Zacharias was one of these priests.
Now we have the visit of Miriam to Elizabeth. Why? Because the angel Gabriel (in the previous segment)
also told Miriam that her cousin, Elizabeth, was pregnant. And for that reason Miriam now makes the journey
from Galilee down to Judea to visit her cousin.
―(41) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: (42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed
art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb‖. Already then, the baby in the womb of
Elizabeth is performing the function for which he is going to be born, that of being the herald of the King.
With the leaping of the babe in the womb, we are told next that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She
is now controlled by the Holy Spirit and she gives forth a prophetic utterance in the subsequent verses.
―(43) And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (44) For, lo, as soon as the
voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy‖. The degree of revelation
that Elizabeth received in this prophetic utterance is seen in what she calls Miriam - ―the mother of my Lord‖.
―(45) And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were
told her from the Lord‖. Also in this prophetic utterance of Elizabeth‘s is a word of confirmation to Miriam. In
it we are told the extent of her faith. She believed the message of the angel, and having believed, Elizabeth
goes on to tell her that the promise of the angel will find its fulfilment.
The song of Miriam (we continue to read from Luke chapter 1)
(46) ―And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
(47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations
shall call me blessed.
(49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
(50) And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
(51) He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(52) He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
(53) He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
(54) He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
(55) As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever‖.
The ―song of Miriam‖ is her response to the message YHWH had given her. Miriam‘s song can be divided
into two main sections. In verses 46-50, she talks about what YHWH did for her. In verses 51-55, she talks
about what YHWH will do for Israel. The song of Miriam shows the extent of her spirituality and her
knowledge of Scripture. This is because many things stated here are very similar to Hannah‘s Song in the
book of 1 Samuel.
She makes two main points in her song:
First, YHWH is her Messiah. The kinds of people that need a Messiah are sinners. By her own words, she
contradicts the teaching of the Immaculate Conception that states that Miriam was born sinless. She is a
sinner and needed a Messiah.
Secondly, the One coming will fulfil the promises made to Abraham.
(56) And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house‖. Elizabeth was already
six months pregnant before Miriam arrived. Miriam stayed another three months with her to help her in her
final days of pregnancy. When Miriam left to go back to Nazareth, Miriam was three months pregnant. See
the chronological events of Yochanan (John) and Y‘shua‘s dates of birth under the section ―The Visitations‖.
Birth of Yochanan (John) (we continue to read from Luke chapter 1)
(57) ―Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
(58) And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and
they rejoiced with her.
(59) And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him
Zacharias, after the name of his father.