Mendelssohn’s ‘Hear Ye, Israel’ and Chorus:
Text:
Hear ye, Israel; hear what the Lord speaketh: “Oh, hadst thou heeded my commandments!”
Who hath believed our report?
To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One,
to him oppressed by tyrants, thus saith the Lord:
“I am He that comforteth; be not afraid, for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee. Say, who art thou, that thou art afraid of a man shall die, and forgettest the Lord thy maker, who hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the earth’s foundations?
Be not afraid, for I, thy God, will strengthen thee.”
Chorus: “Be not afraid,” saith God the Lord, “Be not afraid, thy help is near.” God, the Lord thy God, sayeth unto thee, “Be not afraid!”
Though thousands languish and fall beside thee, and tens of thousands around thee perish, yet still it shall not come nigh thee.
Rembrandt painted his ‘Supper at Emmaus’ twice. One in 1629, one in 1648. Both deal with the matter of resurrection.
Let yourself be led into Mendelssohn’s music and Rembrandt’s interpretation of resurrection.
