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The Second Book of Maccabees

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 1 -

Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire.

1
To the brethren the Jews that are throughout Egypt, the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health, and good peace.
2
May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:
3
And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a great heart, and a willing mind.
4
May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and send you peace.
5
May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never forsake you in the evil time.
6
And now here we are praying for you.
7
When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we Jews wrote to you, in the trouble, and violence, that came upon us in those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from the kingdom.
8
They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the leaves.
9
And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.
10
In the year Bone hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is at Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.
11
Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king.
12
For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia that have fought against us, and the holy city.
13
For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the counsel of the priests of Nanea.
14
For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under the title of a dowry.
15
And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the temple,
16
When Antiochus was came in: and opening a secret entrance of the temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with him, and hewed them in pieces, and cutting off their heads they threw them forth.
17
Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.
18
Therefore whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built.
19
For when our fathers were led in Persia, the priests that then were worshippers of God took privately the fire from the altar, and hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there they kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men.
20
But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water.
21
Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the priest Nehemias commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were laid upon it.
22
And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that all wondered.
23
And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.
24
And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who alone art the goad king,
25
Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the fathers and didst sanctify them:
26
Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy own portion, and sanctify it.
27
Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God.
28
Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with pride.
29
Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.
30
And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.
31
And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.
32
Which being done, there was kindled a dame from them: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
33
And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were with him had purified the sacrifices.
34
And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened.
35
And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and divers presents, and he took and distributed them to them with his own hand.
36
And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But many call it Nephi.

Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous fire.

1
The kindred, the Jews who are in Jerusalem and those who are in the country of Judea, send greetings and good peace to the kindred, the Jews who are throughout Egypt.
2
May God do good to you, and remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants,
3
and give you all a heart to worship him and do his will with a strong heart and a willing soul.
4
May God open your heart to his law and his statutes, and make peace,
5
and listen to your requests, and be reconciled with you, and not forsake you in an evil time.
6
Now we are praying for you here.
7
In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred sixty-ninth year, we the Jews have already written to you in the suffering and in the distress that has come upon us in these years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom,
8
and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood. We prayed to the Lord, and were heard. We offered sacrifices and meal offerings. We lit the lamps. We set out the show bread.(a)
9
Now see that you keep the days of the feast of tabernacles in the month Chislev in the one hundred eighty-eighth year.
10
The people of Jerusalem and those who are in Judea, with the senate and Judas, to Aristobulus, King Ptolemy’s teacher, who is also of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews who are in Egypt, we send greetings and health.
11
Having been saved by God out of great perils, as men arrayed against a king, we thank him greatly.
12
For he threw out into Persia those who fought against us in the holy city.
13
For when the prince had come there, with an army that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanaea by the treachery of Nanaea’s priests.
14
For Antiochus, on the pretense that he would marry her, came into the place, he and his friends who were with him, that they might take a large part of the treasures as a dowry.
15
And when the priests of Nanaea’s temple had set the treasures out, and he had come there with a small company within the wall of the sacred precinct, they locked the temple when Antiochus had come in.
16
Opening the secret door of the panelled ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the prince. They cut him and his company in pieces, and cut off their heads, and threw them to the people who were outside.
17
Blessed be our God in all things, who handed over those who had committed impiety.
18
Since we are now about to celebrate the purification of the temple in the month Chislev, on the twenty-fifth day, we thought it necessary to notify you, so that you may also keep a feast of tabernacles, and remember the fire which was given when Nehemiah offered sacrifices, after he had built both the temple and the altar.
19
For indeed when our fathers were about to be led into the land of Persia, the godly priests of that time took some of the fire of the altar, and hid it secretly in the hollow of a well that was without water, where they made sure that the place was unknown to anyone.
20
Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having received a charge from the king of Persia, sent in quest of the fire the descendants of the priests who hid it. When they declared to us that they had found no fire, but thick liquid,
21
he commanded them to draw some of it out and bring it to him. When the sacrifices had been offered, Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle with that liquid both the wood and the things laid on it.
22
When that was done and some time had passed, and the sun shone out, which before was hidden with clouds, a great blaze was kindled, so that all men marveled.
23
The priests made a prayer while the sacrifice was being consumed—both the priests and all the others. Jonathan led and the rest responded, as Nehemiah did.
24
The prayer was like this: “O Lord, Lord God, the Creator of all things, who are awesome, strong, righteous, and merciful, who alone are King and gracious,
25
who alone supply every need, who alone are righteous, almighty, and eternal, you who save Israel out of all evil, who chose the ancestors and sanctified them,
26
accept the sacrifice for all your people Israel, and preserve your own portion, and consecrate it.
27
Gather together our scattered people, set at liberty those who are in bondage among the heathen, look upon those who are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that you are our God.
28
Punish those who oppress us and in arrogance shamefully entreat us.
29
Plant your people in your holy place, even as Moses said.”
30
Then the priests sang the hymns.
31
As soon as the sacrifice was consumed, then Nehemiah commanded that the rest of the liquid be poured on large stones.
32
When this was done, a flame was kindled; but when the light from the altar shone back, it went out.
33
When the matter became known, and it was told the king of the Persians that, in the place where the priests who were led away had hid the fire, the liquid appeared which Nehemiah and those who were with him purified the sacrifice,
34
then the king enclosed the place and made it sacred after he had investigated the matter.
35
When the king would show favor to any, he would exchange many presents and give them some of this liquid.
36
Nehemiah and those who were with him called this thing “Nephthar”, which is by interpretation, “Cleansing”; but most men call it Nephthai.

Footnotes

(a)1:8 Gr. loaves