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Article A PARABLE* Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Parable*
A PARABLE *
The Midrash gives the following instructive allegorical signification of the eighth day of the Tabernacles , in a parable : — " A king , who ruled over an immense country , invited to a splendid banquet at the palace a rmmerov . s assembly of his adherents . The royal invitations were not confined to the courtiers and to the inhabitants of tbe metropolis , but extended to poor and rich , high and low , and to every provincial town in his dominions . The banquet lasted ' seven successive
days . The royal host entertained his subjects with everything which the abundance of the season produced ( it being just the time of harvest ); but , in order to render their obligation for this great honour and hospitality less oppressive , the royal benefactor commanded , or rather permitted , every one of his guests to bring with him a trifling present , consisting of fruit , ancl of the various products of the very soil which they possessed bthe king ' s bountyThe king ' s proclamation saicl
y . , ' Every man shall give as he is able . ' " A beautiful scene now presented itself at the royal court . Poor and rich manifested more or less their loyalty and their due appreciation of their monarch ' s hospitality during their presenting these humble offerings , expressing in words and gestures their gratitude for the privilege thus graciously granted , for the assistance rendered unto them by the royal benefactor in the cultivation ofthe
soil—for the aid afforded them by the king ' s ministers in the application of their resources ; also giving vent , in humble ancl fervent petitions , to their unwearied attachment to the throne . —to their readiness to obey his wise laws and statutes—and , finally , that they loved him with all their heart , with all their soul , and with all their might . " Thus was spent a whole week , divided in feasting and decorous enjoyment of the royal hospitality , and in ardent prayers , glowing with
loyal submission and obedience , and unflinching attachment to their lord and master . On the arrival of the evening of the seventh day , when the grateful visitors prepared to take leave of their royal host , he had them assembled round his throne , and thus addressed them : ' My children , I am deeply sensible of the gratitude which you acknowledge for the entertainment which I afforded you ; I thank you for the offerings and presents you have brought me , though I am aware it was but a tithe of
what I gave you , and though to me helongeth the whole land and the fulness thereof ; but it is the gratefulness , and the faith ancl confidence in my administration which it conveys , that I require at your hands . I cannot , however , allow you to depart yet , my beloved subjects , stay another day with me . Let us devote to-morrow , also , to rejoicing ; not , however , exclusively to yourselves , but rejoice also , in your feast , your sons and your daughters , your man and maid servants , the stranger and the fatherless , the widow and every one that is needy , within your gates . '"
The solution of this parable is obvious . We all know the mighty king and his subjects . We all remember , though we see no more , the magnificent residence , the city of cities , whither our ancestors were privileged to flock from every part of their country , and where all their males were permitted , three times in the year , to appear before the Lord their God , and to offer unto Him himself that for which they were solely
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Parable*
A PARABLE *
The Midrash gives the following instructive allegorical signification of the eighth day of the Tabernacles , in a parable : — " A king , who ruled over an immense country , invited to a splendid banquet at the palace a rmmerov . s assembly of his adherents . The royal invitations were not confined to the courtiers and to the inhabitants of tbe metropolis , but extended to poor and rich , high and low , and to every provincial town in his dominions . The banquet lasted ' seven successive
days . The royal host entertained his subjects with everything which the abundance of the season produced ( it being just the time of harvest ); but , in order to render their obligation for this great honour and hospitality less oppressive , the royal benefactor commanded , or rather permitted , every one of his guests to bring with him a trifling present , consisting of fruit , ancl of the various products of the very soil which they possessed bthe king ' s bountyThe king ' s proclamation saicl
y . , ' Every man shall give as he is able . ' " A beautiful scene now presented itself at the royal court . Poor and rich manifested more or less their loyalty and their due appreciation of their monarch ' s hospitality during their presenting these humble offerings , expressing in words and gestures their gratitude for the privilege thus graciously granted , for the assistance rendered unto them by the royal benefactor in the cultivation ofthe
soil—for the aid afforded them by the king ' s ministers in the application of their resources ; also giving vent , in humble ancl fervent petitions , to their unwearied attachment to the throne . —to their readiness to obey his wise laws and statutes—and , finally , that they loved him with all their heart , with all their soul , and with all their might . " Thus was spent a whole week , divided in feasting and decorous enjoyment of the royal hospitality , and in ardent prayers , glowing with
loyal submission and obedience , and unflinching attachment to their lord and master . On the arrival of the evening of the seventh day , when the grateful visitors prepared to take leave of their royal host , he had them assembled round his throne , and thus addressed them : ' My children , I am deeply sensible of the gratitude which you acknowledge for the entertainment which I afforded you ; I thank you for the offerings and presents you have brought me , though I am aware it was but a tithe of
what I gave you , and though to me helongeth the whole land and the fulness thereof ; but it is the gratefulness , and the faith ancl confidence in my administration which it conveys , that I require at your hands . I cannot , however , allow you to depart yet , my beloved subjects , stay another day with me . Let us devote to-morrow , also , to rejoicing ; not , however , exclusively to yourselves , but rejoice also , in your feast , your sons and your daughters , your man and maid servants , the stranger and the fatherless , the widow and every one that is needy , within your gates . '"
The solution of this parable is obvious . We all know the mighty king and his subjects . We all remember , though we see no more , the magnificent residence , the city of cities , whither our ancestors were privileged to flock from every part of their country , and where all their males were permitted , three times in the year , to appear before the Lord their God , and to offer unto Him himself that for which they were solely