2Maccabees:1

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* The brethren , the Jews that be at Jerusalem and in the land of Judea , wish unto the brethren , the Jews that are throughout Egypt health and peace : * God be gracious unto you , and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , his faithful servants ; * And give you all an heart to serve him , and to do his will , with a good courage and a willing mind ; * And open your hearts in his law and commandments , and send you peace , * And hear your prayers , and be at one with you , and never forsake you in time of trouble . * And now we be here praying for you . * What time as Demetrius reigned , in the hundred threescore and ninth year , we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years , from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom , * And burned the porch , and shed innocent blood : then we prayed unto the Lord , and were heard ; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour , and lighted the lamps , and set forth the loaves . * And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu . * In the hundred fourscore and eighth year , the people that were at Jerusalem and in Judea , and the council , and Judas , sent greeting and health unto Aristobulus , king Ptolemeus ' master , who was of the stock of the anointed priests , and to the Jews that were in Egypt : * Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils , we thank him highly , as having been in battle against a king . * For he cast them out that fought within the holy city . * For when the leader was come into Persia , and the army with him that seemed invincible , they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea 's priests . * For Antiochus , as though he would marry her , came into the place , and his friends that were with him , to receive money in name of a dowry . * Which when the priests of Nanea had set forth , and he was entered with a small company into the compass of the temple , they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in : * And opening a privy door of the roof , they threw stones like thunderbolts , and struck down the captain , hewed them in pieces , smote off their heads and cast them to those that were without . * Blessed be our God in all things , who hath delivered up the ungodly . * Therefore whereas we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu , we thought it necessary to certify you thereof , that ye also might keep it , as the feast of the tabernacles , and of the fire , which was given us when Neemias offered sacrifice , after that he had builded the temple and the altar . * For when our fathers were led into Persia , the priests that were then devout took the fire of the altar privily , and hid it in an hollow place of a pit without water , where they kept it sure , so that the place was unknown to all men . * Now after many years , when it pleased God , Neemias , being sent from the king of Persia , did send of the posterity of those priests that had hid it to the fire : but when 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 sacrifices were laid on , Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the 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 marvelled . * And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming , I say , both the priests , and all the rest , Jonathan beginning , and the rest answering thereunto , as Neemias did . * And the prayer was after this manner ; O Lord , Lord God , Creator of all things , who art fearful and strong , and righteous , and merciful , and the only and gracious King , * The only giver of all things , the only just , almighty , and everlasting , thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble , and didst choose the fathers , and sanctify them : * Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people 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 that are despised and abhorred , and let the heathen know that thou art our God . * Punish them that oppress us , and with pride do us wrong . * Plant thy people again in thy holy place , as Moses hath spoken . * And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving . * Now when the sacrifice was consumed , Neemias commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones . * When this was done , there was kindled a flame : but it 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 that were led away had hid the fire , there appeared water , and that Neemias had purified the sacrifices therewith . * Then the king , inclosing the place , made it holy , after he had tried the matter . * And the king took many gifts , and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify . * And Neemias called this thing Naphthar , which is as much as to say , a cleansing : but many men call it Nephi .

---