Avodah: Ancient Poems for Yom Kippur

5. Azkir Gevurot Elohah

5. Azkir Gevurot Elohah “Let Me Recount the Wonders of God” yose ben yose Y ose ben Yose, who most likely lived in the fourth or fifth century c.e., is the first payetan known to us by name. However, nothing else is known about him except that he composed several important early piyyutim, including at least four Avodot. This composition, Yose ben Yose’s masterpiece, is perhaps the most influential Avodah piyyut and was probably the best known of the ancient Avodah piyyutim. Although it may have been influenced by Az be-6En Kol, it seems to have set the pattern for subsequent Avodah compositions. Azkir Gevurot is distinguished by an elegant style, which describes its subjects with poetic precision, although without giving up the basic predisposition of piyyut toward elaboration. It also uses biblical history more selectively than Az be-6En Kol, emphasizing cultic and priestly dimensions of Israel’s past. Ismar Elbogen discussed Azkir Gevurot in his pioneering studies of the Avodah.1 Zvi Malachi included an edition of Azkir Gevurot in his 1974 dissertation; soon afterward Aaron Mirsky edited it in his collection of the piyyutim of Yose ben Yose.2 T. Carmi included a partial prose translation in The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse.3 This translation is based on an improved version of Mirsky's edition based on Genizah manuscripts 1. Elbogen, Studien. Editions also appear in Davidson, Asaf, and Joel, eds., Siddur Rav Sa5adiah Gaon, 264‒65; Qoves Ma5ase Yede Ge6onim Qadmonim (Berlin, 1856), 1‒9; and Anthologia Hebraica,µ ed. H. Brody and M. Wiener (Leipzig 1922), 26‒36. 2. Mirsky, Yose ben Yose, 122‒72. 3. T. Carmi, ed., The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse (New York: Penguin, 1981), 209‒14. 222 avodah [introductory praise] Let me recount the wonders of the magnificent God, Who is unique; there is no other, self-sufficient and none second to Him. There is none beyond Him in the universe, none prior to Him in heaven; none preceded Him, and none can supplant Him. When the Lord conceived, when God invented, He consulted but none could prevent Him, He spoke and none constrained Him. He speaks and fulfills, decrees and enacts, He is strong enough to support it, the world heroic enough to bear it. 5 He who is lauded by the lips of his creatures, from above and below, let Him receive praise. One God, unique on earth, and holy in heaven, among the great waters, magnificent on high. Exaltation from the depths, praise from the lights, speech4 during the days, melody during the nights. Let fire announce His name; let the trees of the forest sing for joy; 4. Heb. 5omer (n.). According to Mirsky, the term here has connotations of song. azkir gevurot elohah 223 ] [l` ceak mixtqn minyd zFxEaB xiMf`©§¦§ ixC`p DFl`¡©¤§¨¦ cFr oi`e cig獵¥ ipW oi`e qt¤̀¤§¥¥¦ clgA oi` eixg`©£¨¥©¤¤ wgXA oi` eiptl§¨¨¥©©© mcw FYlA oi¥̀¦§¤¤ awrA FzlEf¨§¥¤ aFWgl oFc`¨©£ zFUrl midl`¡
¦©£ xCrp oi`e Klnp¦§¨§¥¤§¨ U xg`n oi`e g ¨§¥§©¥ dUFre xnF`¥§¤ miwnE urFi¥¥¦ uiO` z`Ul ©¦¨¥ lFAql xFAbe§¦¦§ 5 zFppx Fl xW£̀¤§¨ eixEvi iRn¦¦§¨ dHOnE dlrOn¦©§¨¦©¨ dNdz `Vi¦¨§¦¨ ux`A cg` l¥̀¤¨¨¨¤ minXA WFcẅ©¨©¦ miAx miOn¦©¦©¦ mFxOA xiC`©¦©¨ zFnFdYn xc¤̀¤¦§ zFxF`On gaW¤©¦§ minIn xnF`¤¦¨¦ zFliNn cnl¤¤¦¥ FnW ricFY W¥̀¦©§ EpPxi xri ivr£¥©©§©¥ 224 avodah let each beast rehearse the might of His awesome deeds. [the creation] The Workman5 was his amusement, the Torah the Law, his plaything; it was His occupation until His treasure arose. Israel At first, before a thousand generations, it arose in his intention, and from it came the plan for all the works of the construction.6 On high He established the throne of His majesty; he spread His cloud,7 and stretched out the gauze as a tent, heaven so that it shall not move, nor will its pegs wander until its end comes and it is renewed with His word. He strengthened, over the waters, the pillars of the earth, and he girded his loins with chaos and storm. They will not move, nor will they slip until the world wears out like a garment and is exchanged as of old.8 15 Disorder and darkness covered the face of the earth; 5. Heb. 5oman, from Prov 8:30. See Gen Rabbah 1:1. 6. Heb. tavnit. There may be connotations of the building of the Temple. 7. Job 26:9. azkir gevurot elohah 225 cOlY...