Your ShelfYour Projects

EBAL AND GERIZIM

6%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 29, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 45, No. 18.

Read the full edition

EBAL AND GERIZIM.

By Mrs. A. A. Barnes

I can see a wondrous picture Gleaming through the centuries old, Where the lovely vale of Sychar Lies between the mountains bold.
And this valley, bright with verdure, Watered is by laughing rills; Near a thousand feet above it, Rise the everlasting hills!
Rise Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, Which the hosts of Israel fill; Mounts of blessing and of cursing, Thoughts of which each bosom thrill.
And midway across this valley Rests the ark—the priests anear— Over which the Lord’s Shekinah Guided Israel year by year;
Through the Red Sea, through the desert, Jordan’s parted waters through; Seen by day a cloudy pillar, And by night a flame in view.
They have gained the land of promise, Their enfeoffment has been given; They are His peculiar people, Feared by men, and helped of Heaven.
And now their great, victorious leader, Gives the waiting priests command, To recite the curse and blessing, To the tribes ranged on each hand.
And the sons of Rachel’s children, Gerizim’s high honor share; And save Zebulun and Reuben, All of Leah’s sons are there.
All the rest are on Mount Ebal, Half of Israel’s hosts declare, An assent to all the curses, Which afore JEHOVAH sware!
Sunbeams glinting down the valley, Where the ark its bearers hold, Give the cherubim new beauty, Light the mercy-seat’s pure gold.
O’er the heads of priests and Levites, With the sacred ark between, They irradiate a picture, Such as nowhere else is seen.
Unto Gerizim first turning, Solemnly the priests now spake: “Bless-ed is the man that never Shall a graven image make.” Loud “amens” from o’er that mountain, Might its deep foundations shake!
And now the priests, turning northward Toward Mount Ebal, chant again: “Curs-ed is the man that maketh Any molten image.” Then All the tribes upon that mountain Shout a deep and loud—“Amen!”
All the blessings, all the curses, Promised them in Moses’ law Are recited; while the people Give assent with fear and awe.
And the children, list’ning, gazing, Never to their dying day, May forget that scene imposing, That most wonderful array,
On Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, While the valley at their feet, Held the ark in radiant beauty, Covered with the mercy-seat.
—Mrs. A. A. Barnes.