VI. ELEAZAR BE-RABBI KALIR
[Opinions differ as to the time and birthplace of this liturgic poet. The latest researches, however, tend to prove that he flourished in Palestine toward the end of the seventh century. He was a very prolific poet, about two hundred of his poems being still extant in the various Mahzorim. His muse is doleful, bewailing the misfortunes of the Jewish people. His style, though chiefly biblical in construction, teems with newly-coined words.]
1. A Complaint[[52]]
‘Why is the glory of kingdoms cast down and still without dominion?’ ‘Bel she set up as king, and walked after him, against the law of God. Over her was then set the mistress of kingdoms,[[53]] until God’s rule shines forth.’
She burned my dwelling-place, and crushed my saints, and yet her kingdom was prolonged. She spreads on all sides, she bends her bow against me, and extends her yoke. She terrified and crushed the tender people; and yet she still holds sway. She laid bare and waste my temple’s foundation; her guile is very deep. She lifted up her head, and took crafty counsel; her hands are exalted. Her cunning burns in her, she soars to the sky, and is girt with sovereignty. She rent my curtains, and destroyed my tent; she harrowed and ploughed my land. She props herself with dominion, is girt with sovereignty, and me she harasses. She plans rebellion, and hastes to serve strange gods;—God’s kingdom she profanes. She tortures the King’s sons, and says before the King: ‘Who in heaven is king over me?’
She vaunts against the King’s throne: ‘There is no king save me, none else besides me reigns.’
O highest King, reject Thou her from sovereignty;—restore Thy dominion to Thyself.
2. The Patriarchs and Matriarchs Intercede on Behalf of Their Exiled Children[[54]]
Jeremiah went about by the fathers’ graves, and said: ‘Beloved ones, how can ye lie at rest, while your children are banished, pierced through with the sword? Where is then your merit in a land laid waste?’ The patriarchs all cried with bitter lamentations, because they were bereft of their children; with an imploring voice they moaned to the Dweller of the skies: ‘Where is Thy pledge: “But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors”?’[[55]]
‘They changed My glory for vanity; they had no dread of Me, they feared Me not; when I hid My face from them, they longed not, and waited not for Me. How shall I then refrain Me when they say: “He is not our God”?’[[56]]