NUMBERS CHAPTER 19 ~ 24

WEEK 39 NUMBERS 19

1 Now YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron,
Saying 2 "This ordinance to swear on
Of the law which YHWH has commanded,
Saying 'Speak where Israel's folk landed,
That they bring you red heifer that
Is without blemish, in which bat
There's no defect and on which yoke
Has never come. 3 'You shall give it
To Eleazar the priest fit,
That he may take it out the camp,
And it shall be slaughtered for stamp
Before him, 4 'and Eleazar, priest,
Shall take some of its blood at least
With his finger, and sprinkle some
Of its blood seven times in sum
Directly in front of the tent
Of meeting. 5 'Then the heifer spent
Shall be burned in his sight: its hide,
Its flesh, its blood, offal beside
Shall be burned. 6 'And the priest shall take
Cedar wood and hyssop to make,
And scarlet, and cast them into
The midst of the fire burning due
The heifer. 7 'Then the priest shall wash
His clothes, shall bathe in water slosh,
And afterward he'll come into
The camp, the priest shall be unto
Evening unclean. 8 'And the one who
Burns it shall wash his clothes in water,
Bathe in water, after the slaughter,
And be unclean till evening come.
9 'Then a man who is clean in sum
Shall gather up the ashes of
The heifer, and store them above
Outside the camp in a clean place,
And they shall be kept for a race
Of all the congregation of
The children of Israel for water
Of purification, this slaughter
Is for purifying from sin.
10 'And the one who gathers in bin
The ashes of the heifer shall
Wash his clothes, and hygienical
Be unclean until evening come.
It shall be a statute to plumb
The ages unto Israel's folk
And to the stranger and the bloke
Who dwells among them to provoke.

No one has found, perhaps, red heifer now
That has not borne in vain the brandished plough.
So ashes lack to make the purity,
No holy water is found here in fee.
We seek in vain the cleansing flood this time,
And bow reluctantly beneath the rhyme.
The preacher and the pope in this fair day
Is so far from purifications' way
They see no problem in the defiled sway
Of impure spirit raising anthems' pay,
So long as love and feeling love abounds.
We proceed all about the temple grounds.
Beloved, I flee to You from ashes and
Ashless waters of false faith on each hand.

11 'He who touches the dead body
Of anyone unclean shall be
For seven days. 12 'He'll purify
Himself with water on the sly
On the third day and then upon
The seventh day, then he at dawn
Will be clean. But if he does not
Purify himself on the third
Day and on the seventh day wrought,
He will not be clean of the turd.
13 'Whoever touches the body
Of anyone who's died for free,
And does not purify himself,
Defiles the tabernacle shelf
Of YHWH. That person shall be cut
Off from Israel, no and or but.
He'll be unclean, because the water
Of purification and slaughter
Was not sprinkled on him, and his
Uncleanness is still on his biz.
14 'This is the law when a man dies
In a tent: all who answering cries
Come in the tent and all who are
In the tent shall be unclean far
As seven days, 15 'and every bowl
That's open, without cover roll
Fastened on it, is unclean too.
16 'Whoever in the open dew
Field touches one who's slain by sword
Or who has died, or bone abhorred
Of a man, or a grave, shall be
Unclean for seven days, then free.
17 'And for an unclean person they
Shall take some of the ashes grey
Of the heifer burnt for cleansing
From sin, and running water spring
Shall be put on them in a bowl.
18 'A clean person shall take the whole
Hyssop and dip it in the water,
Sprinkle it on the tent that caught her,
On all the vessels, on the folk
Who were there, or on one to stroke
Above, the slain, the dead, or grave.
19 'The clean person shall so behave
To sprinkle the unclean on third
Day and on seventh day deferred,
And on the seventh day he shall
Purify himself corporal,
Wash his clothes, and in water bathe,
And at eve he'll be clean as wraith.
20 'But the man who is unclean and
Does not purify him by hand,
That person shall be cut off from
Among the congregation's sum,
Because he has defiled the tent
Of sanctuary for YHWH meant.
The purifying water has
Not been sprinkled on him, so as
He is unclean. 21 'It shall be thus
Perpetual statute and fuss
For them. He who sprinkles the spring
Of purifying water's thing
Shall wash his clothes, and he who touches
The purifying water's clutches
Shall be unclean till evening come.
22 'Whatever the unclean in sum
Touches shall be unclean, the one
Who touches it is unclean done
Until the setting of the sun.'"

In ancient days perhaps there were unclean
And clean to segregate by the tent screen.
But now there are just unclean in the pen
And cleanness is a thing that misses men.
None look to You, Beloved, but dervish dog,
Unclean by Your creation and incog.
The unclean dervish dog lifts up a voice
To bay Your holy name, Your name of choice,
And in that baying cannot help but lay
A curse upon the pomp of churchly pray.
I do not curse in hate but merely in
The unclean way I sing against its sin
As I recite the syllables of law
Once chanted by Yourself in Sinai's awe.

NUMBERS 20

1 The children of Israel, the whole
Assembly, came body and soul
Into the Wilderness of Zin
In the first month, to take a spin
The people stayed in Kadesh, and
Miriam died there and in that land
Was buried. 2 Now there was no water
For the assembly, son or daughter,
So they gathered together there
Against Moses and Aaron's care.
3 The people contended and spoke
With Moses, saying "If the stroke
Had only killed us when our brothers
Died before YHWH and their own mothers!
4 "Why have you brought up the assembly
Of YHWH into this desert trembly,
That we and our animals should
Die here? 5 "And why have you seen good
To make us come out of the land
Of Egypt, to bring evil hand
Upon us in this place we stand?
It's not a place of grain or figs
Or vines or pomegranates, nor swigs
Of any water here to drink."
6 So Moses and Aaron to think
Went from the presence of the folk
To the door of the meeting tent,
And they fell down as by a stroke
On their faces. YHWH's glory went
Before them. 7 And then YHWH spoke to
Moses, saying 8 "Take the rod, you
And your brother Aaron gather
The congregation together.
Speak to the rock before their eyes,
And it will yield water supplies,
Thus you shall bring water for them
Out of the rock, ad hominem
Give drink both to the congregation
And to their animals a ration."
9 So Moses took the rod from there
Before YHWH by His command's care.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered
The assembly to hear the word
Together there before the rock,
And he said to them, "Hear, take stock,
You rebels! Must we bring water
For you out of this rock and stir?"
11 Then Moses lifted his hand and
Struck the rock twice against command,
With his rod, and water came out
Abundantly, and with a shout
The congregation and their beasts
All drank the water as in feasts.
12 Then YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you did not in faith share on
Me, to hallow Me in the eyes
Of Israel's folk, but to despise,
Therefore you shall not bring this folk
Into the land of which I spoke.
13 This was water of Meribah,
Because Israel's folk without awe
Contended with YHWH, and He was
Hallowed in them for what He does.

Beloved, You do not seem to realize
What it was like to lose a mother wise
In Israel when Miriam died, how hot
The desert wind felt, like a boiling pot
Gone dry, and all the disappointments of
Rebellions quelched, consequent loss of love,
And thirst. You do not seem to know at all
What it was like to be pushed to the wall,
Or You would have had patience with the pair
That struck the rock, and with the people's share.
Is situation no excuse for what
Men do in their illusions, cloistered, shut
From seeing the light of reality?
Beloved, judge once more between Me and me.

14 Now Moses sent messengers from
Kadesh to the king of Edom.
"Thus says your brother Israel,
'Of all our hardships you know well,
15 'How our fathers went to Egypt,
And we lived in Egypt slave clipped
A long time, and Egyptians did
Afflict us and our fathers' bid.
16 'When we cried out to YHWH, He heard
Our voice and sent Angel preferred
And brought us up out of Egypt,
Now here we are to where we've slipped
In Kadesh, a city upon
The edge of your border toward dawn.
17 'Please let us pass through your country.
We will not pass through any free
Fields or vineyards, nor will we drink
Water from wells, we'll only slink
Along the king's highway, we will
Not turn aside to the right hill
Nor to the left side either till
We have passed through your sacred hill.'"
18 Then Edom said to him, "You shall
Not pass through my land prodigal,
Lest I come out to fight with you
With the sword." 19 So Israel's folk said
To him, "We'll go by highway led,
And if I or my livestock drink
Any of your water from sink,
Then I will pay for it, let me
Only pass through on foot for free."
20 Then he said "You shall not pass through."
So Edom came to fight them too
With many men and a strong hand.
21 Thus Edom refused through his land
To give Israel the right of way,
So Israel from him turned away.

Who fly from Egypt and slavery to right
Of kings and civilized and welcome night
To wander in the desert and alone
Under Your care without the cherished bone
Of faint idolatry must meet the cast
Of hate from even brother in the blast.
Who fly from raucous wail and heathen dance
To bow before the still small voice's lance
Must also face the arrow of the strong
In favour of the beating drums of wrong.
Beloved, I turn from Egypt and the leek
And mind my steps with Moses, a man meek,
And trip at Esau's punishment's blockade.
In You alone my foot and mind are stayed.

22 Then the folk of Israel, the whole
Assembly, journeyed from the toll
Of Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.
23 And YHWH spoke to Moses before
And Aaron in Mount Hor beside
The border of Edom's land's ride,
Saying 24 "Aaron shall be gathered
To his people and be interred,
For he shall not enter the land
Which I have given by mighty hand
To the children of Israel,
Since you did at my word rebel
There one time at Meribah's well.
25 "Take Aaron and Eleazar
His son, and bring them up to star
On Mount Hor, 26 "and strip Aaron of
His garments and put them on love
Eleazar his son, for Aaron
Shall be gathered to folk, die thereon."
27 So Moses did just as YHWH said,
And they went up to Mount Hor led
In all the congregation's sight.
28 Moses stripped Aaron of his right
And garments and put them upon
Eleazar his son, Aaron
Died there on the top of the mount.
Then Moses came down from the mount
With Eleazar. 29 Now when all
The congregation saw that Aaron
Was dead, all Israel's house took care on
To mourn full thirty days for Aaron .

My poor rebellious soul that strikes the rock
Before the people dazed with sinful shock
Climbs up the mountain one more time to see
The clouds open into infinity.
I let the prophet take my breastplate off
My weary shoulders' hangings, and the scroff
Of sinewed neck taut in the sun and heat
Bows in submission at the prophet's feet.
The little deaths of breath and silently
Remembering Your names are hardly fee
Preparing for the grand death when it comes.
At that moment at last I know its sums.
Beloved, I leave my jewels to another,
As I return to dust and the earth mother.

NUMBERS 21

1 The king of Arad, Canaanite,
Who lived in the south out of sight,
Heard that Israel was coming on
The road to Atharim at dawn,
Then he fought against Israel and
Took some of them prisoners in hand.
2 So Israel made a vow to YHWH,
And said "If You will be so true
To deliver this folk into
My hand, then I will utterly
Destroy then their every city."
3 And YHWH listened to Israel's voice
And delivered up to their choice
The Canaanites, and they destroyed
Them utterly and so enjoyed
Destroying their every city.
So the name of that place was called
Hormah for what happened appalled.
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by
The way of the Red Sea, to try
To go around the land of Edom,
And the soul of folk seeking freedom
Became discouraged on the way.
5 And so the people spoke again
Against Ælohim and in vain
Against Moses, "Why have you brought
Us up out of Egypt unsought
To die here in the wilderness?
For there is no food here to bless
And no water, and our soul loathes
This worthless bread in manna's clothes."
6 So YHWH sent fiery serpents there
Among the people, and with care
They bit the folk, and many died
Of Israel's people on the side.
7 Therefore the people came and said
To Moses, "We have sinned, been led
To speak against YHWH and you too,
Pray to YHWH that He take away
The serpents from us in the way."
So Moses prayed for the folk. 8 Then
YHWH said to Moses for the men,
"Make fiery serpent, and set it
On a pole, and there it shall sit
So everyone who's bitten, when
He looks at it, shall live again."
9 So Moses made a bronze serpent,
And put it on a pole of tent,
And so it was, if a serpent
Had bitten anyone, when he
Turned to the bronze serpent to see,
He lived, healed, well and comfortably.

I wonder if it was exactly wise
To put a brazen serpent before eyes
Of people tempted by idolatry.
Beloved, you made a mistake as I see.
After that day the folk was ready to
Bow down to every image of a few.
As time went on Messiah spoke a word
About the lifted serpent that occurred,
And since that time sweet Christians have blurred
The difference, Beloved, twixt him and You.
The serpent in the way could bite a heel
To make a body sick and die for real.
The image on the pole by bare contrast
Could kill the soul with idol worship fast.

Wait, O Beloved, I would not sing like him
Who refused to bow before Adam’s hymn.
Your oneness and divinity reach me
By way of reason and by way I see
Of Your command. The heathen choose to take
Truth for their own benighted wisdom’s sake.
Prostration for Iblis in reason’s light
Is for You, my Beloved, alone in sight.
Instead I set aside the god I make
Of You and turn away from Satan’s rake.
I prostrate not from reason in the pay
Of my own wisdom granted on a day,
But in obedience to Your command.
And so I bow to brass beneath Your hand.

10 The folk of Israel now moved on
And camped in Oboth until dawn.
11 And they journeyed from Oboth and
Camped at Ije Abarim's stand,
In the desert before Moab,
Toward the sunrise at a stab.
12 From there they removed and encamped,
In valley of Zered they tramped.
13 From there they removed and encamped
On the other side of Arnon,
In the wilderness that goes on
From border of the Amorites,
For Arnon's Moab's border rights,
Between Moab and Amorites.
14 Therefore it is said in the Book
Of the Wars of YHWH if you look,
"Waheb in Suphah, where are brooks
Of the Arnon, 15 and slope of brooks
That reaches to dwelling of Ar,
And lies on Moab's border far."
16 From there they went to Beer, the well
Where YHWH said to Moses a spell,
"Gather the folk together, I
Shall give them water by and by."
17 Then Israel sang this song "Ali
Exalted one's a well to see!"
All of you sing to him freely.
18 The well the leaders sank, dug by
The nation's best nobles, and by
The lawgiver, and with their staves.
And from the wilderness and graves,
They go to Mattanah, 19 and from
Mattanah to Nahaliel come,
From Nahaliel to Bamoth,
20 And from Bamoth, the valley's growth
That is in Moab's land, to top
Of Pisgah which looks down to stop
Upon the wasteland's behemoth.

The well of Kauthar, my Beloved, is soon
Exposed to Paradise, its trees and boon.
The nobles of the nation dug in search
Of it from desert palm to northern birch,
The leaders sank it deep to find their worth,
And Moses, long before dear Ali's birth,
Sang in the Law the praises due to him
That You appointed from the desert rim
Of Ghadir. So the people sang in omen
And prophecy so loud and clear that no man
Could gainsay guidance set by God alone
And sure as carved, engraved in granite stone.
I sing this song, O my Beloved, to You:
Ali exalted is a well and true.

21 And Israel sent messengers to
Sihon king of Amorites' due,
Saying 22 "Let me pass through your land.
We will not turn aside to stand
In fields or vineyards, we'll not drink
Water from wells, and we shall think
To go by the king's highway till
We've passed through your land at our will."
23 But Sihon would not allow that
Israel should pass through his land's fat.
So Sihon gathered all his folk
Together and went in one stroke
Against Israel in wilderness,
And came to Jahaz in full dress
And fought against Israel's address.
24 But Israel defeated him
With the mouth of the sword and grim,
And took possession of his land
From the Arnon to Jabbok's strand,
As far as the folk of Ammon,
For on Ammon's border was drawn
Fortifications' paragon.
25 So Israel took all these cities,
And Israel lived there as they please
In all the Amorite cities,
In Heshbon and its boundaries.
26 For Heshbon was the city of
Sihon king of Amorites' love,
Who had fought against former king
Of Moab, and taken in string
All his land from his hand as far
As the brooks of the Arnon are.
27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs
Say "Come to Heshbon and suburbs,
Let it be built, let Sihon's city
Be repaired, and on it take pity.
28 "For fire went out from Heshbon and
A flame from Sihon's city's strand,
It consumed Ar of Moab and
The lords of Arnon's heights in band.
29 Woe to you, Moab! You have perished,
O people that Chemosh had cherished!
He's given his sons as fugitives,
And daughters where the captive lives,
To Sihon king of Amorites.
30 "But we have shot at their delights,
Heshbon's destroyed to Dibon's way.
Then we laid waste all Nophah's sway,
Which reaches to Medeba's brae."
31 Thus Israel lived upon the land
Of Amorites. 32 Then Moses manned
Spies out to Jazer, and they took
Its villages and drove out hook
And halter all the Amorites
Who were there and lived on those sites.
33 And they turned and went up by way
To Bashan. So Og king that day
Of Bashan went out against them,
He and all his folk by the hem,
To battle at Edrei. 34 Then YHWH
Said to Moses, "Do not fear him,
For I have delivered his crew
Into your hand, with all his grim
People and his land, and you shall
Do to him as you, prodigial,
Did to Sihon Amorites' king,
Who lived at Heshbon by the spring."
35 So they defeated him, his sons,
And all his people by their tons,
Until there was none left to him,
And took his land away from him.

If Ali is a well, he is also
Commander of the faithful armies' show.
Who sing of Ali and the blessèd flow
Of Kauthar must sing also songs of war.
The enemy will always come before
Those who seek divine guidance on the path.
Divine guidance arouses kingly wrath,
Republican as well if truth be told.
That's why Israel en route had to be bold.
Who slew Og king of Bashan lived to bear
Children to take his place in wear and tear,
And Bashan's fat cows in their luxury
Repeated sins of Ammon under tree.
Beloved, let me not live to have soul sold.

NUMBERS 22

1 Then the children of Israel moved,
And camped in the plains of what proved
To be Moab, on Jordan's banks
Across from Jericho in ranks.

WEEK 40

2 Now Balak the son of Zippor
Saw all Israel had done and more
Unto the Amorites. 3 And he
With Moab was exceedingly
Afraid of the people because
They were many and with sharp claws,
And Moab was sick with their dread
Because of Israel's folk ahead.
4 So Moab told the elders of
Midian, "Now this band's come to shove
And will lick up all around us,
As an ox licks up the field's grass."
And Balak the son of Zippor
Was king upon Moabites' shore
At that time. 5 So he sent runners
To Balaam the son of the spurs
Of Beor at Pethor, that's near
The land's river where sons appear
Of Ammon, to call him, saying
"Behold, a people's come on wing
From Egypt. See, they cover all
The face of the earth in their sprawl,
And are settling here next to me!
6 "Therefore please come at once and see
And curse this people for me, for
They are too mighty for my shore.
Perhaps I can gain their defeat
Drive them from the land in retreat,
For I know that he whom you bless
Is blessed, and he whom you confess
A curse is cursed." 7 So Moab's old
Ones and elders of Midian bold
Departed with diviner's fee
In hand, and they in company
Came to Balaam and spoke to him
The words of Balak, king and grim.
8 And he told them, "Lodge here tonight,
And I'll bring back word in your sight,
As YHWH speaks to me of the right."
So the princes of Moab stayed
With Balaam. 9 Ælohim arrayed
Came to Balaam and said "Who are
These men with you, come from afar?"
10 So Balaam said to Ælohim,
"Balak the son of Zippor's dream,
King of Moab, has sent to me,
Saying 11 'Look, a people's gone free
From Egypt, they cover the face
Of the earth. Come now to this place,
And curse them for me, perhaps I
Shall be able to overpower
Them and drive them out in an hour.'"
12 And Ælohim told Balaam why,
"You shall not go with them, and you
Shall not curse the folk on his cue,
For they are blessed." 13 So Balaam rose
In the morning, put on his clothes,
And said to the princes of Balak,
"Go back to your land and to Gaelic,
For YHWH has refused to give me
Permission to go on your spree."
14 And the princes of Moab rose
And went to Balak to expose,
"Balaam refused to come with us
For what reason contrarious."

Beloved, the people make complaint that You
Are always wordless when You're spoken to
And silent partner when it comes to prayer.
Our feigned petitions rise on empty air.
It's not in callous disregard, it seems,
That You address the folk only in dreams
Of symboled fate, unfragrant, radiant views,
But rarely in well-spoken entre-nous.
It's that You know beforehand by the plot
That trust in human beings is a shot
Into a cloudy night. What use to speak
To Balaam, prophet, or the other weak
In faith and sight? If there were really chance
I'd listen, You would doubtless sing and dance.

15 Balak again sent princes, more
Numerous and excelsior.
16 And they came to Balaam and said
To him, "Thus says Balak our head,
The son of Zippor, 'Please let nought
Hinder you from coming as sought,
17 'For I'll certainly honour you
Greatly, and I will do what you
Say to me. Therefore please to come,
Curse this folk for me for the worse.'"
18 Then Balaam answered and said to
The servants of Balak, "Though you
Gave me his house full of ado
In silver and gold, I could not
Go beyond the word that YHWH's taught,
My God, to do the less or more.
19 "You also stay now please therefore,
Here tonight, that I may know what
More YHWH will say to me in plot."
20 And Ælohim came to Balaam
At night and gave him cryptogram,
"If the men come to call you, rise
And go with them, but don't despise
The word which I speak to you, but
That you shall do." 21 So Balaam got
Up in the morning, saddled ass,
Went with Moab's princes alas.

The gold and silver could not move the man
To plot destruction, speak curses and plan
The downfall of the righteous, but the hope
Of honours from the reigning king and pope
Moved him right well to hear Your word to go
And make a spectacle of himself if not show.
The wise raccoon and wily raven, crow
Know that the sparkling trinket and its glow
Is worth the taking, but all they are slow
To pocket pride, to rush to meet applause
And raise a monarch's welcome to their claws.
At least gold does not tarnish, while the straws
Of kingly honour are an empty dream.
Wake up, my soul and Balaam, to what seem.

22 Then Ælohim's anger was roused
Because he went girt, clad and bloused,
And the Angel of YHWH took stand
In the way as a foe in hand
Against him. And he rode his ass,
Two servants with him in first class.
23 The donkey saw the Angel of
YHWH standing in the way above
And with his drawn sword in his hand,
And the donkey turned countermand
Out of the way and went into
The field. Balaam struck ballyhoo
The donkey for to turn her back
Onto the road and in the track.

Beloved, let me not pray to you for sense
Once You've given final word's ornaments.
Let me not ask if image cannot hold
A grace for me despite what You have told.
Let me not ask if Sunday's just as good
A day to observe when the Sabbath should
Be clear enough from Decalogue and Script.
Beloved, let me not return to Egypt
And Babylon, because my lust would take
The way of advertisement's public wake.
You told the prophet what to do and why,
And he answered with a rebellious sigh,
And so You commanded a word to death.
I need no grants from You beyond my breath.

24 Then the Angel of YHWH stood in
A narrow path as straight as sin
Between the vineyards, with a wall
On this side and a wall to fall
On that side. 25 And when the ass saw
The Angel of YHWH, she in awe
Pushed herself against the wall and
Crushed Balaam's foot against the stand,
So he struck her again forsooth.
26 The Angel of YHWH went in truth
Further, and stood in narrow place
Where there was no way to retrace
Either to the right hand or left.
27 And when the donkey saw the heft
Of the Angel of YHWH, she lay
Down under Balaam in the way,
So Balaam's anger was aroused,
And he struck the donkey entoused
With his staff. 28 Then YHWH opened mouth
Of the donkey from north to south,
And she said to Balaam, "What have
I done to you like Turk or Slav,
That you have struck me these three times?"
29 And Balaam told the ass in rhymes,
"Because you have abused me, I
Wish there were a sword in my try,
For now I'd kill you, you would die!"
30 So the donkey said to Balaam,
"Am I not your donkey, I am,
On which you've ridden, ever since
I became yours, till this day's wince?
Was I ever disposed to do
This to you?" And he said "No, true."
31 Then YHWH opened up Balaam's eyes,
And he saw YHWH's Angel arise
To stand in the way with his sword
Drawn in his hand, and he was floored
And bowed his head, fell flat on face.
32 And the Angel of YHWH in grace
Said to him, "Why've you struck your ass
These three times in the rocky pass?
Indeed, I have come out to stand
Against you, for your way in hand
Is perverse before me. 33 "The ass
Saw me and turned aside to pass
From me these three times. If she had
Not turned aside from me, it's sad,
Surely I'd also have killed you
By now, and let her live and stew."
34 Balaam said to Angel of YHWH,
"I've sinned, for I did not know you
Stood in the way against me. So
Therefore, if it displease You so,
I will turn back." 35 Angel of YHWH
Said to Balaam, "Go with the men,
But only word I speak to you,
That shall you come to speak again."
So Balaam went with Balak's princes,
Despite his ankle and his winces.

Like Eve before the serpent in the park
Balaam was not surprised to hear the bark
Of donkey speaking human-sounding tongue.
Beloved, no one takes note with due surprise
Before what You create for human eyes.
Our vision's fastened on the lowest rung.
Not marvelling creation's wild affuse,
I and my fellows heap on it abuse
Born of impatience. Let me walk a while
Beneath the twitter of the angels' style
Of song and speech, until such words as teach
Come to my ears and understanding's reach.
Let me, if prophets are, be taught by ass
To admire sterling hays and purple grass.

36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam
Was coming, he in oriflamme
Went out to meet him at the city
Of Moab, which is on the gritty
Border at the Arnon, frontier
Of the country. 37 Then Balak said
To Balaam in offended ear,
"Did I not earnestly send to
You, calling urgently for you?
Why did you not come then to me?
Am I not able and greatly
To honour you?" 38 And Balaam said
To Balak, "Look, I've come to you!
Now, have I any power when led
To say anything here at all?
The word that Ælohim by call
Puts in my mouth, that I must speak."
39 So Balaam went with Balak bleak,
And they came to Kirjath Huzoth.
40 Then Balak offered oxen both
And sheep, and he sent to Balaam
And to the princes in the scam.
41 So it was the next day, that grim
Balak took Balaam and brought him
Up to the high places of Baal,
That from there he might see the vale
Spread out with the folk before him.

Your prophet pretends that only Your word
Guides him on the road to avoid the turd.
I too suppose the Decalogue You spoke
Is rooted in my soul and like the oak.
Beloved, let me not love the yesterday
And think thereby I'm walking in Your way.
Let my choice of Your law and grace be done
Each morning once again beneath the sun.
Let me not follow every heathen run
Delusioned that I am Your right hand gun.
Who bows in Sabbath beauty may awake
To walk out on a Sunday for the sake
Of crass reward and honour at the stake.
Faith easily reduces to a pun.

NUMBERS 23

1 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build
Seven altars for me here filled,
Prepare for me seven bulls and
Seven rams." 2 And at the command
Balak did just as Balaam spoke,
And Balak and Balaam in yoke
Offered on altars bulls and rams.
3 Then Balaam told Balak for scams,
"Stand by your burnt offering, and I
Will go, perhaps YHWH will come by
To meet me, and whatever He
Shows me I will tell you freely."
So he went to a lonely height.
4 And Ælohim met Balaam's sight,
And he said to Him, "I've prepared
The seven altars, and I've aired
In offering on each altar bull
And ram." 5 Then YHWH put a word full
In Balaam's mouth, and said "Return
To Balak, and thus you shall learn
To speak." 6 So he returned to him,
And there he was, standing and grim
By his burnt offering, he and all
The princes of Moab by call.

I too seek oracle devout and neat
But circumambulation of my feet
In seven turns such as brought down the walls,
In seven dips as Naaman's heart appals,
In seven sacrificial prostrations
As Prophet Elijah rejects and shuns
The very Baal that hears folk's benisons.
Without bull and without the fat of ram,
But in the humble faith of Abraham,
I turn to You, Beloved, and seven-fold
Make my praise and petition loud and bold
To echo and re-echo on the cold
Dark stones my inner chamber rises on,
Burnished silver and gold upon the dawn.

7 And he took up his oracle
And said in oratorical
"Balak the king of Moab's brought
Me from Aram, from where he sought
The mountains of the east. 'Come, curse
Jacob for me, and come not worse,
Denounce Israel!' 8 "How shall I curse
Whom El God has not cursed? And how
Shall I denounce whom YHWH has now
Not denounced? 9 For from the top of
The rocks I see him, and above
From the hills I look at him, there!
A lone people dwelling in air,
Not reckoning itself among
The nations. 10 "Who can count the sung
Dust of Jacob, or number one
Fourth of Israel when counting's done?
Let me die the death of the good,
And let my end be like his would!"
11 Then Balak said to Balaam, "What
Have you done me? I took you but
To curse my enemies, and look,
You've blessed them well as you mistook!"
12 So he answered and said "Must I
Not take heed to speak what YHWH's cry
Has put in my mouth for the book?"
13 Then Balak said to him, "Please come
With me to where you'll see them from,
But you shall see the outer part
Of them alone, and shall not start
To see them all, curse them for me
From there throughout eternity."
14 So he brought him up to the field
Of Zophim, to Pisgah's top shield,
And built him seven altars' yield,
And offered a bull and a ram
On each altar to serve the scam.
15 And he said to Balak, "Stand here
By your burnt offering without fear
While I meet with YHWH over there."
16 Then YHWH met Balaam, put a thing
In his mouth, and said "Go and sing
To Balak, and thus you shall speak."
17 So he came to him standing sleek
By his burnt offering, and the chiefs
Of Moab were with him for fiefs.
And Balak said to him, "What's YHWH
Spoken?" 18 Then he took up his cue
In oracle and said "Arise,
Balak, and hear, do not despise!
Listen to me, son of Zippor!
19 "El God is not a man, that He
Should lie, nor son of man before,
That He should repent. And has He
Said, and will He not do? Or does
He speak not to make good His cause?

Beloved, God is not man nor son of man,
Then Son of Man's not God, do what we can.
Let son of man dressed in my flesh and bone
To You, in love who are One God alone,
Turn and return from breath to breath to seek
The sounding of Your name week upon week.
Though I might lie and just as soon repent
Let me return to where the roses went,
Bathe in the pristine Truth that for Your sake
The scintillating pools of Kauthar make.
Then being son of man I shall at last
Make all but You within me an outcast,
And rise from air to earth to eat the nut
Instead of grape and plum in forties cut.

20 Indeed, I've been told now to bless,
He has blessed, and I must confess
I cannot reverse what He's said.
21 "He has not found a sinful spread
In Jacob, nor has He seen sin
In Israel. YHWH is with him
A judge exalted, and the shout
Of a king's among them about.
22 El God brings them out of Egypt,
He has strength like a wild ox ripped.
23 "For no sorcery can prevail
Against Jacob, nor divination
Against Israel, a righteous nation.
It now must be said without fail
Of Jacob and of Israel,
'Oh, what has been wrought by God El!'
24 Behold, a people rises like
A lioness, and lifts to strike
Like a lion, it shall not lie
Down until it devours well-nigh
The prey, and drinks blood of the slain."
25 Then Balak spoke and in this vein
To Balaam, "Neither curse at all,
Nor bless them at all from the wall!"
26 So Balaam answered and said to
Balak, "Did I not say to you,
'All that YHWH speaks, that I must do'?"
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Please
Come, I'll take you under the trees
In that place, perhaps it will please
Ælohim that you may curse there
For me the folk of Israel fair."
28 So Balak took Balaam up to
The top of Peor, that looks due
Across the desert for his cue.
29 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build
For me here seven altars filled
For me with seven bulls and rams."
30 And Balak did by Balaam's scams
And offered a bull and a ram
On every altar for Balaam.

If at first I don't succeed often I
Follow my Taoist, quietist reply
To float with the stream as though it's Your will.
Such laziness I find will fit the till.
Yet I might take a lesson from the monk
Who casts his spells again when lack of spunk
Foils his attempts at cursing from the trunk.
Let me be as assiduous as he
Is in his cursing for a favoured fee
As I step out with blessings given free.
Both stepping out and blessing may be far
From what I would do with a single star,
But my Beloved, I sacrifice my floating
If You will lend an oar for greater boating.

NUMBERS 24

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased YHWH
To bless Israel, he did not do
As at the other times, to seek
To use magic upon the peak,
But turned toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam raised his eyes to bless,
To see Israel encamped by tribe,
Spirit of Ælohim imbibe.
3 Then he took up his oracle
And said "The utterance in full
Of Balaam the son of Beor,
The utterance of the man for
Whom eyes are opened, 4 utterance
Of him who hears the words in trance
Of El, who sees the vision of
The Almighty, who falls in love,
With eyes wide open: 5 'How lovely
Are your tents, O Jacob! And free
Your dwellings, O Israel! 6 Ali
Shall be like valleys that spread out,
Like gardens by the riverside,
Like aloes planted without doubt
By YHWH, like cedars on the tide
Of waters. 7 He shall pour out from
His buckets waters, his seed come
Like many waters, his king shall
Be higher than Agag's cabal,
Exalted, his kingdom stands fast.
8 From Egypt El brings him to last,
He has strength like a wild ox, he
Shall consume nations, enemy,
He'll break their bones and pierce with arrow.
9 He bows down willing at the harrow,
He lies down as a lion, and
As a lion, who'll make him stand?
Blessed is the one who blesses you,
And cursed is he who curses you.'"

When Balaam turned his sight from Israel
To gaze out on the desert without well,
You spoke through him in prophecy to tell
The triumphs and the virtues of Ali.
From Pisgah I too look out on the sea
Of troubled nations gathered toward the flood
Of the Euphrates, see the curse and blood,
And yet beyond the dryness of men's fate,
I see the luscious waters of the gate
Of Kauthar and the hand that raises cup
Filled to the brim, and still he holds it up.
The lion crouches, and You bid me bless
His name, and so I raise in righteousness
Once more confession of his royal state.

10 Then Balak's anger was aroused
Against Balaam come in to browse,
He struck his hands together, and
Balak told Balaam on the strand,
"I called you here to curse my foes,
And look, you bountifully disclose
Blessings three times upon them here!
11 "Now therefore, flee to your own bier.
I said I'd greatly honour you,
But truly you are kept by YHWH
From honour." 12 So Balaam said to
Balak, "Did I not also speak
To your messengers sent to seek
Me, saying 13 'If Balak should give
Me his house full of silver sieve
And gold, I could not go beyond
The word of YHWH, to wave a wand
For good or bad of my own will.
What YHWH says, that I must speak still'?

Beloved, how many are the righteous ones
Who speak like Balak, when they hear my puns.
They see my humble works and wares and say
That You have kept all honour from my way.
Such honour I do not require or relish,
Methinks the praise smacks of born to be hellish.
I take the beauties of the heathen art
Posing as worship with angelic part
And hide them with the treasures of my heart,
And yet know that the ranging crystal hall
Filled with the light and sound of dancing ball
Encrusts an empty splendour that is filled
Only when You at last come to be billed.
Beyond the choirs I lift a slender call.

14 "And now, indeed, I'm going to
My people. Come, I'll apprise you
Of what this folk will surely do
To your folk in the latter days."
15 So he took up his song of praise
And said "Balaam son of Beor
Gives utterance, and word before,
A man whose eyes are open still,
16 The utterance of him who will
Hear the words of El God, and holds
The knowledge the Most High enfolds,
Who sees the vision of Almighty,
Who falls down, with eyes open, sighty:

The further man removes from Your employ,
Despite the sounds and visions to enjoy,
The more remarkable phenomena
Accompany his exercises' awe.
With heart and mind untrue, the prophet gropes
Toward the fulfilment of his vain hopes
With trances and with falling down to hold
Communion with You in splendour untold.
Eye open and abiding light and gloom
He steadily marches towards his doom.
Beloved, let my heart be true to Your own
As I come without visions to Your throne
And hear only the silence there alone,
Eyes closed or open to my flesh and bone.

17 "I see him, but not now, I look
At him, but not near like a book,
A star shall come from Jacob and
A sceptre rise in Israel's hand
To batter and crush Moab's brow,
And destroy all the sons of row.
18 "And Edom shall be thing possessed
And Seir also, his foes confessed,
Shall be an heirloom taken while
Israel does valiantly in style.
19 Out of Jacob one shall possess
Dominion, and destroy the mess
Of the city." 20 Then he looked on
Amalek, and he took the drawn
Up oracle and said "The king
Amalek was first one to sing
Among the nations, but shall be
Last till he perish utterly."
21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and
He took up his oracle and
Said "Firm is your dwelling place, and
Your nest is set upon the rock,
22 Nevertheless Kain shall in shock
Be burned. How long until Asshur
Carries you away captive cur?"
23 He took his oracle and said
"Alas! Who shall live and be led
When El God does this? 24 But ships from
The coasts of Cyprus when they come
Shall afflict Asshur and afflict
Eber, and so shall derelict
Until he perishes relict."
25 So Balaam rose and went his way,
Returning to his place that day,
And Balak also went his way.

Beloved, the star in Jacob once came down
To bless with his presence Bethlehem's town,
And Edom's ruler held the sceptre then
And came to slay many the sons of men.
Who curses must at Your command bring blessing,
And while the kings draw back from their confessing,
Your will is done at last in guidance met,
Ali and Jesus find a common set
In prophesies wrest from unwilling tongue
Of Balaam as he fails to reach the rung
Next set before the scaling of his foot.
Beloved, again I beg that You might put
A ship from Cyprus to bear greater news
That stars have turned to suns to burn the pews.


AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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