Peter, Paul And Mary - The Magi (The Heart Of Man's A Palace) Lyrics

It is the tenth century B.C.E. King Solomon has just died. And under his son King Rehoboam, the Breach of Jeroboam splits Israel into two feuding companies and two warring kingdoms. One favors God’s Law. And the other favors His Grace.

This is an acrimonious situation that continues to this day. The lost tribes of Israel, ten of them, walk out on the royal Jewish house. They descend into deep idolatry.

200 years later in 722 B.C.E. the ten northern tribes, pierced through with fish hooks in their lips, are carried off to Assyria as captives. They are mixed in with the other nations, counted as heathen Gentiles. The lost ten tribes are yet to return to the land.

Over 100 years later the Jewish tribe in the Jewish house of Judah in the southern Kingdom is taken captive to Babylon.
Only this Jewish house of Judah returns.

And the lost ten tribes? They were pushed up into the Caucasus, the Black Sea regions, and the Parthian Empire to the east. Later they went west. They migrated on into the European regions. And why did that happen? They were pushed west by their histories, across the frozen River Danube, across the mountains. They were pushed westwards by the wild people of the steppes, by the Mongols, and later by the Huns.

But the prophecies of Book of Daniel were not lost. And when the time of the incarnation approached came wise men from the lost tribes in the east, from the Parthian Empire. Among them were men who had a handle on the prophesies of the Hebrews, including the Seventy Weeks prophecy of Daniel 9. They knew when the Christ Child was to appear. So they journeyed back to the land out from which they had been scattered.

The artists of our era may not be too enamored with the Biblical narrative. They may not be too impressed with the redemption story. But they pick up the theme and express the truth in their art. And they tell the story.

And why do they do that?
Because it is beautiful.

Thanks for this synopsis!

Oh the magi were the prophets 
And they wandered through the desert
They saw the star above them 
And they knew they'd find their way
Through the valley of the shadow 
With the hope of human kindness
They were strengthened by the vision 
Of a new and brighter day.And the wisemen spoke of peace on earth, 
Of harmony and struggle
Know you now a cycle's gone and a new one is revealed.
In the weaving of your fingers
In the whisper of a love that's born again
In the weaving of your fingers
In a promise that we made that never ends.Well now each man is a pilgrim, 
Yes, we all must make the journey
And it seems that time is telling us to be all that we can
To help lift up the fallen, we must sow the seeds of goodness
The torch is passed among us now to light the way of man.For the heart of man's a palace 
And his dreams are as the sunlight
They burn away the darkness, as they warm the freezing cold
As an eagle flying higher, as a river through the canyon
The diamond star shines down upon, a pathway to the soulAnd the wisemen spoke of peace on earth, 
Of harmony and struggle
Know you now a cycle's gone and a new one is revealed.
In the weaving of your fingers
In the whisper of a love that's born again
In the weaving of your fingers
In a promise that we made that never ends.In a promise that we made that never ends.
In a promise that we made that never ends.

The best Christmas ever!

one of their best songs, ever

THANK YOU!

Thank you very much.