Miriam and the Heifer

Q: Numbers 19 details the death of the red heifer and the laws of purification by ashes and water.  Numbers 20:1 follows immediately with the death of Miriam.  Is there a deeper connection or analogy between Miriam and the red heifer?

A: The only connection here would be chronological. God gives the instructions for the ritual of the red heifer, and then Miriam dies. The whole process with the red heifer was in the instance that someone became unclean due to the touching of a dead body. I would say that it is likely that whoever was responsible for burying Miriam would probably have had to undergo the ritual, but I would say that there is no direct connection that is evident from the text.