2 Maccabees 2
1 How Jeremiah hid the tabernacle, the Ark, and the altar in the hill. 23 Of the five books of Jason contained in one.
IT is also in the writings of Jeremias the Prophet, that he commanded them, which were carried away, to take fire, as was declared, and as the Prophet commanded them that were led into captivity,
Giving them a Law that they should not forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, when they saw images of gold and silver, with their ornaments.
These and such other things commanded he them, and exhorted them that they should not let the Law go out of their hearts.
It is written also, how the Prophets, by an oracle that he had, charged them to take the tabernacle and the ark, and follow him: and when he came up into the mountain where Moses went up, and saw the heritage of God,
Jeremias went forth, and found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the Tabernacle, and the Ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
And there came certain of those that followed him, to mark the place: but they could not find it.
Which when Jeremias perceived, he reproved them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown, until the time that God gathers his people together again, and that mercy be showed.
Then shall the Lord show them these things, and the majesty of the Lord shall appear and the cloud also, as it was showed under Moses, and as when Salomon desired, that the place might be honorably sanctified.
For it is manifest that he, being a wise man, offered the sacrifice: so, when Salomon prayed, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering.
And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not eaten, therefore is it consumed.
So Salomon kept those eight days.
These things also are declared in the writings, and registers of Neemias, and how he made a library, and how he gathered the acts of the Kings, and of the Prophets, and the acts of David, and the epistles of the Kings concerning the holy gifts.
Even so Judas also gathered all things that came to pass by the wars that were among us, which things we have.
Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.
Where as we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same days.
We hope also that the God, which delivered all his people, and gave an heritage to them all and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the Sanctuary,
As he promised in the Law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and gather us together from under the heaven into his holy place: for he hath saved us from great perils, and hath cleansed the place.
As concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, the purification of the great Temple, and the dedication of the altar,
And the wars against Antiochus Ephiphanes, and Eupator his son,
And the manifest signs, that came from heaven unto those, which manfully stood for the Jews religion: (for though they were but few, yet they ran through whole countries, and pursued the barbarous armies,
And repaired the Temple that was renowned throughout all the world, and delivered the city, and established the Laws, that were like to be abolished, because the Lord was merciful unto them with all lenitie [leniency, forebearance]*)
We will assay to abridge in one volume those things, that Jason the Curenean hath declared in five books.
For considering the wonderful number, and the difficulty that they have that would be occupied in the rehearsal of stories, because of the diversity of the matters,
We have endeavored, that they that would read, might have pleasure, and that they which are studious, might easily keep them in memory, and that whosoever read them, might have profit.
Therefore to us that have taken in hand this great labor, it was no easy thing to make this abridgement, but required both sweat, and watching.
Like as he that makes a feast, and seeks other men’s commodity, hath no small labor: so we also for many men’s sake are very well content to undertake this great labor.
Leaving to the author the exact diligence of every particular, we will labor to go forward according to the prescript order of an abridgement.
For as he that will build a new house, must provide for the whole building, but he that sets out the plat [flat part of a sword, flat piece of ground, plot of ground]* or goes about to paint it, seeks but only what is comely for the decking thereof:
Even so I think for us, that it appertains to the first writer of a story to enter deeply into it, and to make mention of all things, and to be curious in every part.
But it is permitted to him that will shorten it, to use few words, and to avoid those things that are curious therein.
Here then will we begin the story, adding thus much to our former words, that it is but a foolish thing to abound in words before the story, and to be short in the story.
*WP4Y
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