70
THE DEATH OF AARON.
The veteran must die, the great High Priest,
The chosen one of God! He whom the Lord
Had called to such high service now is called
Meekly to lay it down.
This is the man
Who well nigh forty years before was sent
Afar into the lonely wilderness
To meet his banished brother, hitherto
So much debarred from him by circumstance
That they scarce seemed as brothers. But they met
With true and strong affection, Aaron heard
Of Moses' high commission, learnt his own
Appointed share therein, and they henceforth
Were bound in closest brotherhood to do
Jehovah's bidding; so to-day they shine
As lustrous stars amid the galaxy
Of noble spirits throughout every age.
Unto the younger brother had God given
The greater honour, and the greater care
In freeing captive Israel from their woes
In alien Egypt, and in leading them,
Through difficulties, that to human power
Seemed insurmountable, unto the land
Long promised, long desired, so far away.
And he should be to Aaron in God's stead,
Aaron his eloquent spokesman to the king
And to the multitude of Israel.
And Aaron should uphold his brother's hands,
And share his toils and burdens, and receive
From him his own peculiar divine charge
To be the High Priest of the Most High God,
His chosen instrument in developing
His everlasting purposes of love
For that one nation, and for all mankind.
The chosen one of God! He whom the Lord
Had called to such high service now is called
Meekly to lay it down.
This is the man
Who well nigh forty years before was sent
Afar into the lonely wilderness
To meet his banished brother, hitherto
So much debarred from him by circumstance
That they scarce seemed as brothers. But they met
With true and strong affection, Aaron heard
Of Moses' high commission, learnt his own
Appointed share therein, and they henceforth
Were bound in closest brotherhood to do
Jehovah's bidding; so to-day they shine
As lustrous stars amid the galaxy
Of noble spirits throughout every age.
Unto the younger brother had God given
The greater honour, and the greater care
In freeing captive Israel from their woes
In alien Egypt, and in leading them,
Through difficulties, that to human power
Seemed insurmountable, unto the land
Long promised, long desired, so far away.
And he should be to Aaron in God's stead,
Aaron his eloquent spokesman to the king
And to the multitude of Israel.
And Aaron should uphold his brother's hands,
And share his toils and burdens, and receive
From him his own peculiar divine charge
To be the High Priest of the Most High God,
His chosen instrument in developing
His everlasting purposes of love
For that one nation, and for all mankind.
