2 Maccabees 1

1To the Jewish brothers in Egypt: the Jewish brothers in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea, greetings and good peace.

2and may God do good to you, and remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants.

3and may he give you a faithful heart to worship him and to do his will with a great heart and a willing soul;

4and open your heart in his law and in the commandments, and bring about peace;

5and may he hear your prayers, and be reconciled to you, and not abandon you in an evil time.

6And now we are here, praying for you.

7In the reign of Demetrius, in the one hundred sixty-ninth year, we Jews wrote to you in the distress and in the crisis that came upon us in those years, after Jason and those with him departed from the holy land and the kingdom.

8And they set the gateway on fire and poured out innocent blood; but we prayed to the Lord and were heard. We offered sacrifice and fine flour, lit the lamps, and set out the loaves.

9And now, celebrate the days of the Festival of Booths in the month of Chislev.

10in the eighty-eighth year, in Jerusalem.

11Having been saved by God from great dangers, we give him great thanks, as those about to array ourselves against a king.

12For he himself drove those arrayed for battle in the holy city out into Persia.

13For when the leader and the force around him that seemed to be invincible had entered, they were cut down in the temple of Nanaia, because the priests of Nanaia had used deceit.

14For when Antiochus and his friends with him arrived at the place as though to marry her, in order to get the money in large amount as a dowry payment,

15And when the priests of Nanea had set these things out, and he had come with a few men into the enclosure of the temple precinct, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus entered.

16After opening the hidden door of the smoke chamber, they threw stones and struck down the leader, and after cutting him into pieces, they threw the heads to those outside.

17Blessed in every way is our God, who gave up those who acted wickedly.

18Since we are about to celebrate the purification of the temple on the twenty-fifth of Chasleu, we thought it necessary to make this clear to you also, so that you too may celebrate the festival of booths and of the fire, when Nehemiah, after building both the temple and the altar, offered sacrifices.

19For when our fathers were being led away into Persia, the devout priests took some of the fire from the altar and secretly hid it in the hollow of a dry well, where they secured it so that the place would be unknown to everyone.

20But after many years had passed, when it seemed good to God, Nehemiah, having been sent by the king of Persia, sent for the descendants of the priests who had hidden it, to get the fire.

21When they reported to us that they had found no fire, but thick water, he ordered them to draw some out and bring it. Then, when the things for the sacrifices had been brought forward, Nehemiah ordered the priests to sprinkle the water on both the wood and what was laid on it.

22And when this happened and some time had passed, and the sun shone out though it was clouded over, a great fire was kindled, so that everyone marveled.

23And when the sacrifice had been consumed, the priests and all the others offered prayer, with Jonathan leading and the rest responding, as in Nehemiah's time.

24And the prayer was in this form: “Lord God, creator of all things, the awesome and mighty and righteous and merciful one, the only king and good one,”

25the only provider, the only righteous one, almighty and eternal, the one who rescues Israel from every evil, who made the fathers chosen and sanctified them;

26Accept the sacrifice for all your people Israel, and preserve your portion and sanctify it.

27Gather our dispersed people, free those enslaved among the nations, look upon those who are despised and abhorred; and let the nations know that you are our God.

28Torment those who oppress and insolently abuse us in their pride;

29Plant your people in your holy place, just as Moses said.

30And the priests were chanting the hymns.

31And when the things of the sacrifice had been consumed, Nehemiah ordered the remaining water to be poured on larger stones.

32And when this happened, a flame was kindled; and when the light from the altar shone forth, it was consumed.

33But when the matter became known and it was reported to the king of the Persians that, in the place where the priests who had been taken away had hidden the fire, water had appeared, from which also those with Nehemiah purified the sacrifices,

34Then the king enclosed it and made it sacred, after testing the matter.

35And from those men the king received many different gifts, and distributed them.

36And the men around Nehemiah called this Nephthar, which is translated “Purification”; but by most people it is called Nephi.