Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

82 JEHUDAH HALEVI

42

THE PASSING OF RABBI BARUCH¹

joei 1.14: 2,15. Why do the people call a solemn assembly?

Let them alone, for bitter
11 Kings 4,27. Is the soul of all the people.

The Law is perished from Sinai,
And they thirst for the word of the Lord,
Ex. 17.1. But there is no water to give drink to the

people.

Ex. 9,3. Lo, the hand of the Lord hath been

Against the great mountain that was
i Sam. 9,2. High over all the people.

The sun and the moon have gone down,
And heavy cloud is upon the mountain,
Ex. 19.16. And trembling seizeth all the people.

The destroying angel hath set his face,
Ezek. 10,2. Hath filled his arms with coals of fire,
Ex. 24,8. And hath sprinkled them on the people.

I moan and cry in my burning fire,
I say unto Fate in the bitterness of my soul:
Ex. 5,22. Why hast thou dealt ill with this people?

job 16,7. Lo, all mine assembly thou madest desolate

The day thou didst raise to the skies
Ps. 89,20. One chosen of the people.

¹ According to Harkavy, Rabbi Baruch ben Isaac ben
Baruch Albalia. See Jewish Encyclopedia I, p. 321.