2 Maccabees 1
1 An epistle of the Jews that dwell at Jerusalem, sent unto them that dwell in Egypt, wherein they exhort them to give thanks for the death of Antiochus. 19 Of the fire that was hid in the pit. 24 The prayer of Neemias.
THE brethren the Jews, which be at Jerusalem, and they that are in the country of Judea, unto the brethren the Jews, that are throughout Egypt, send salutation, and prosperity.
God be gracious unto you and remember his covenant made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob his faithful servants,
And give you all an heart, to worship him, and to do his will with a whole heart and with a willing mind,
And open your hearts in his Law, and commandments, and send you peace,
And hear your prayers, and be reconciled with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble.
Thus now we pray here for you.
When Demetrius reigned, in the hundredth, threescore and nine year, we Jews wrote unto you in the trouble, and violence that came unto us in those years, after that Jason, and his company departed out of the holy land and kingdom,
And burnt the porch, and shed innocent blood. Then we prayed unto the Lord, and were heard: we offered sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the bread.
Now therefore keep ye the days of the feast of the Tabernacles in the mongh Chasleu.
In the hundredth, fourscore and eight year, the people that was at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the counsel and Judas, unto Aristobulus King Ptolemeus’s master, which is of the stock of the anointed Priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, sends greeting and health.
In so much as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank him highly, as though we had overcome the King.
For he brought them into Persia by heaps, that fought against the holy city.
For albeit the captain, and the army, that was with him, seemed invincible, yet they were slain in the temple of Nanea, by the deceit of Naneas Priests.
For Antiochus, as thou he would dwell with her, came thither, he, and his friends with him, to receive money under the title of a dowryl.
But when the Priests of Nanea had laid it forth, and he was entered with a small company within the Temple, they shut the Temple, when Antiochus was come in.
And by opening a private door of the vault, they cast stones, as it were thunder, upon the captain and his, and having bruised them in pieces, they cut off their hands and threw them to those that were without.
God be blessed in all things, which hath delivered up the wicked.
Whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the Temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Chasleu, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, the ye also might keep the feast of the Tabernacles, and of the fire which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice, after that he had built the Temple, and the altar.
For when as our fathers were led away unto Persia, the Priests, which sought the honor of God, took the fire of the altar privately, and hid it in an hollow pit, which was dry in the bottom, and therein they kept it, so that the place was unknown unto every man.
Now after many years when it pleased God that Neemias should be sent from the King of Persia, he sent of the posterity of those Priests, which had hid it to fetch the fire, and as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water.
Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it: and when the things appertaining to the sacrifices were brought, Neemias commanded the Priests to sprinkle the wood, and the things laid thereupon with water.
When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone, which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marveled.
Now the Priests, and all prayed, while the sacrifice was consuming: Jonathan began, and the other answered thereunto.
And the prayer of Neemias was after this manner, O Lord, Lord God maker of all things, which art fearful, and strong, and righteous, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
Only liberal, only just and almighty and everlasting, thou that delivers Israel from all trouble, and hast chosen the fathers, and sanctified them,
Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people of Israel, and preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.
Gather those together, that are scattered from us: deliver them that serve among the heathen: look upon them which are despised, and abhorred, that the heathen may know that thou art our God.
Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.
Plant thy people again in thine holy place as Moses hath spoken.
And the Priests sang psalms thereunto.
Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the great stones to be sprinkled with the residue of the water.
Which when it was done, there was kindled a flame, which was consumed by the light, that shined from the altar.
So when this matter was known, it was told the King of Persia, that in the place where the Priests, which were led away, had hid fire, there appeared water, wherewith Neemias and his company had purified the sacrifices.
The King cried tried out the thing, and closed the place about, and made it holy.
And to them that the King favored, he gave and bestowed many gifts.
And Neemias called the same place Ephthar, which is to say, purification: but many men call it Nephthar.
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