Why Miriam?

Why did Miriam die in this week's Parsha, Chukat?  She did not participate in any of  the rebellions against Rabbano Shel Olam or her little brother.  She did not carry on with the episode of the spies.  So why did she  not merit going to Erez Israel? Why?

What puzzles me about Parshat Behar is what happens to the non-Jewish slave that converts and become a MOT.  Does his slaves status change?  Can his owner prevent him from becoming a Jew as that would then change him from a slave to an indentured servant?

On a different note, my challah for the week were the # 7 and a shekel, however no one recognized the # 7 as such and they thought the shekel was a flying saucer.  I don't recall a flying saucer in either of this weeks Parshot.

And finally, reading the Chapter of Manna daily has really helped my Parnasah!  Several etsy sales (finally), a couple ketubot and a new bookkeeping client!

Almost every Shabbat, when I read the Parsha, I have questions that are not asked by Rashi or "Rav" Artscroll. Despite 12 years of Jewish Day Schools, some how my sons "never learned this Parsha" and when I have posed some of these questions to my Lor (local Orthodox Rabbi", the response has been "good questions. I don't have reliable answers to them, tho I can make stuff up". 


 For example:


1- All of Bnai Israel was called to stand before the פתח of the אוהל מועד- except for those in the first few rows, how were all these people suppose to see or hear anything?  

2- If all they were eating during the 40 years was manna, then they didn't have any chumetz at all, so Pesach wasn't a big deal.  And what did they make matza from?  This was the desert- no wheat.  Matza from manna?

Yesterday (Parshat Emor) I asked at the Shabbat table- the divorced daughter of a Kohen with kids who was married to a Levite or Israelite- what happens to her?  Artscroll says she maintains ties with her husbands family.  Sure, that's going to work out great for her - NOT.  And she can't go home to Mom and Dad and eat at their table.  So what happens to her?  

My husband suggested a write a blog poising these questions and maybe I will get some "not made up" answers.

Anyone out there have some answers fro me?