"And Miriam the prophetess, Aharon's sister, took the drum in her hand, and all of the women went out after her...And Miriam answered them, 'I shall sing to God for He is exalted; horse and chariot has He heaved into the sea.'" (16:20-21) Why are Miriam's credentials recounted? Must we really know that she was Aharon's sister and a prophetess in her own right?

Perhaps the Torah is teaching at this juncture that one cannot be innovative or creative in halacha or minhag without credentials or precedent. Miriam's initiation of a public women's song could have been viewed as innovative and daring, and - lacking her credentials - it otherwise might not have been tolerated or sanctioned by Mesorah (Tradition).