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Into the wilderness of Zin they came,And Kadesh saw the death of Miriam.There, yet again for water murmuring,Their bitter need abundantly was met;The Lord supplied the people: but provoked,Moses and Aaron there were angered sore,And in impatience with their lips they spakeAll unadvisedly, and it went illWith them because of stubborn Israel.—They, too, must die before their land is gained.
Here, yet again, at Kadesh, were they nearThat land they so much longed for; so they sentAnd earnestly requested right of wayThrough a small intervening strip of land,From Edom, their own kinsfolk; but refused,With threat of warfare, they must lengthen outTheir long, sad journey. To Mount Hor they came,The closing scene of Aaron's wondrous life,For there must he, the first great High Priest, die!Aaron, the great High Priest of God, must die!His had it been so long to mediateBetween the Lord by His appointed means,And His oft erring people, His t'atoneFor their iniquity by sacrifice,And his to give God's blessing; and not oneMight dare usurp that sacred ministry,Under the penalty of certain death.And, spite of weakness, and of sin, that lifeWas eminently holy, given to HimWho wholly claimed it; ay, and it would leaveA blessed and abiding influenceOn each succeeding age.
But he must die!Not his to finish God's atoning work,He is not suffered to continue it;He did but shadow forth a perfect PriestWho one day should appear. Aaron must die!Not his to enter that delightsome land,
