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A
Parable from the German of Krummacher.
At
Damascus; in the land of Aram, lived a man named Baruch; he was famed in
the whole country on account of his riches, so that the people said: He
is justly called Baruch, which: means the blessed. For he possessed the
treasures of India and Araby, and dwelt in a magnificent palace, the
floors of which were of polished marble, and covered with costly
carpets; and to his wealth also there was no end. Above all, God had
given him an excellent wife, and seven blooming children.
But,
behold! there was neither, peace nor joy in his heart. He therefore
strove daily to increase the splendour of his house, and to replace the
beautiful with things the most beautiful. But with all this he found not
peace in his heart; he grew constantly more depressed, and sleep fled
from his eyelids.
He
then said in his heart, "Of what use is life to me? I can obtain
nothing better and greater than I have possessed from my youth; and I
know now that every thing is vain under the sun, and my soul feels
loathing for all."
Thus
Baruch moved about with desponding thoughts, and grieved his wife and his whole house; so that people said: "An evil
spirit torments him." He therefore thought of putting an end to his
days, that he might escape his affliction.
Now
Baruch heard that there lived in the city of Memphis, in the land of
Mitzraim, a wise man, a prophet, in whose heart God had placed wisdom,
so that he was able to give counsel in all things. And Baruch resolved
to arise and seek his counsel.
And
Baruch called the trustiest of his servants, named Malchi, and said:
"Rise, and get me ready two camels, and load the one of them with
gold and silver, and precious stones and the most costly spices of
Araby." And Malchi did as his master had commanded him. But Baruch
blessed his wife and his children, and arose, he and his servant, and
they departed thence over the mountains through the desert towards
Mitzraim.
Thus
they travelled with their beasts a journey of seven days, and again
seven days, in the desert; but they did not reach that country. For the
angel of the Lord had smitten them with blindness, that they missed
their way, and knew not whether to turn to the right or to the left. And
they and their beasts suffered greatly from thirst; because there was
neither spring nor well in the wilderness far and wide, and they
gathered by night the dew in their cloaks, which they sucked to moisten
their lips.
Then
Baruch sighed and said: Would I not give all the treasures which that
camel carries, and yet many more like them, out of my vaults in
Damascus, for a single cup of water which bubbles forth in my gardens
out of marble and porphyry--and all the costly wines in my cellars, for
a little spring which might refresh our tongues!"
Thus
sighed Baruch; and the day
was oppressive and the heat increased more and more, and they became
still more thirsty, so that their souls grew faint. Thereupon, they
slaughtered one of the camels, but no water was found in him by which
they might refresh themselves.
Then
Baruch opened his mouth and said to Malchi: "Alas! my trusty
servant and companion, have I brought thee hither that thou shouldst die
through my agency! To my household, when at home, I was a torment in my
despondency, and now I am to thee, my faithful Malchi, an angel of
destruction in the desert. And yet thou sufferest patiently as a lamb
that opens not its mouth to its slayer, and thou murmurest not against
thy destroyer, who brings a curse over thee, as a recompense for thy fidelity! Alas! Malchi; how shall I reward thee for this?"
Thus spoke Baruch.
But
Malchi answered and said: "Why should I not follow my master
willingly even unto death? Have I not eaten of thy bread and drunk of
thy wine into this day? Have I not enjoyed the happy days; how then
shall I refuse to share those of evil? O! that the Lord might save thee
out of this danger, and take my soul as an atonement. I am but a single
man, but for thee mourn a wife and seven young children."
And
when Malchi had spoken these words he could utter no more, for his soul
became faint, and he sunk down upon the ground.
Then
broke the heart of Baruch, and he fell upon his face in his grief, and
wept and spoke: "Lord, Lord, the God of heaven and earth, destroy
me, for I am not worthy the grace which Thou hast shown me, and the
burden of my sins rests heavily on my soul. Therefore destroy me, since
my deeds merit it!"
And
when Baruch had spoken these words he was silent and wept greatly.
But
behold, there arose a rushing noise from afar out of the rock, like unto
the rushing of a spring. And Baruch raised his head, and the camel too
then raised his head and bent his ears at the sound, and approached the
rock. Baruch, however, said:--"Will the angel of the Lord do a
wonder, and open for us the rock in the midst of the desert, to save us
from destruction?
Thus
spoke Baruch and hurried forward, and behold, at the foot of the rock in
the hollow bubbled up a little spring of clear water, and it flowed cool
and abundant, and its form was lovely to the sight.
Then,
fell Baruch anew on his face, and wept, and exclaimed: "Alas, Lord
God, now I acknowledge in truth that Thou art merciful and of great
goodness, and that Thou doest wonders, although I am unworthy of thy
mercy!"
Yet
Baruch drank not out of the spring, but brought quickly a cup, filled
it, and run up to his servant Malchi, and washed his temples, and
moistened his lips. Malchi then opened his eyes and looked at his lord.
But Baruch fell upon his neck and wept for joy, and exclaimed: "O
Malchi, thou friend of my heart, no more my servant! O, that I have
found thee!--Behold, the angel of the Lord has shown us a spring!
therefore drink, and refresh thy soul, in order that thou mayest live
and I too may live."
And
after Malchi had drunk, his soul was refreshed; and Baruch led him to
the spring, and they took food which they had brought along from the
camel, and seated themselves in the coolness of the spring, and ate and
drank, and were satisfied. They also watered their beast and rested from
their fatigues, and their souls were refreshed and they became joyous
and of good spirit. And they remained there the night until the
following day.
When
now the sun rose, Malchi said to his lord: "Behold, the sun has
risen. If it is thy desire, then will I fill the water-skins, and we
will move forward unto the prophet in the land of Mitzraim towards the
west. We probably are now not far distant."
Baruch
thereupon looked smilingly upon his trusty servant, grasped his hand,
and said: "Malchi, my brother, not so! Behold, the Lord has given
met the wisdom, which I have sought. For what should we need the prophet
of Mitzraim? Well then, we will journey towards the east, the way which
we came."
They
thereupon filled the skins with fresh water, watered the camel, and
drank themselves, and blessed the spring which had saved them from
destruction, and departed joyfully on their way:
And
when they arrived at their home at Damascus, Thirza, the wife of Baruch,
was sitting at the door of the house, with her seven children beneath
the palms, and she was terrified when she
saw Baruch and his servant Malchi. Baruch, however, pressed his
wife and children to his heart, and wept for joy.
Then
Thirza raised her voice and said: "Blessed be unto me the wise man
of Mitzraim, who has so speedily sent you home again, and blessed be
unto me Baruch, my beloved. For behold, thy countenance is quite altered, and thy face beams unto me like an angel of peace. Tell me, I pray, the name of the man of God, who
has called back peace into thy soul, that I may bless him."
But
Baruch smiled and gazed on his wife, and told her every thing as it had
happened to him and Malchi from beginning to end. Then he said:
"Behold, not a man and a prophet but the Lord himself has
instructed me. In the desert have I learned humility; in the little
water-spring have I recognised the grace of the All-merciful and his
goodness; and in my servant I have found a man and a friend! And now I
return to you a new man, and peace dwells in my heart, that is costlier
than gold and silver and which my wealth was not able to give me."
Thus
spoke Baruch, and his course was friendly and simple and just till the
end of his days. But with his treasures he did good in the whole country
around, and there was found no poor man whom he assisted not in his
poverty. Then said the poor, whom he aided: "Well may he justly be
called Baruch, for he is one that is blessed of the Lord, and from him
too comes blessing."
But
he said: "Behold, this also the spring has taught me."
And
when a year had elapsed, he travelled on to the spring with Malchi his
friend, and wife and children, and consecrated the spring, and built
near it an oasis for the pilgrims of the desert.
But
the spring he called Beere Refuah, which means the "Spring of
Recovery." Thus it is called till this very day. |
