Gregory of Nyssa, on Exod 15:20

“So Mary the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand: and all the women went forth after her with timbrels and with dances:”

“This reminds us that the prophetess, Miriam, immediately after the crossing of the sea, took a dry, tuneful "tambourine in her hand" and led a chorus of women. Perhaps by the tambourine Scripture means to suggest the virginity of the first Mary, who was, I think, the prototype of Mary the mother of God. For as the tambourine produces a loud sound, having no moisture in it and being quite dry, so also virginity is clear and noised abroad and has nothing in itself of the life-preserving moisture of this life.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.