2 Maccabees 2

1And those in Judea, and the council of elders, and Judas, to Aristobulus, teacher of King Ptolemy, who is also of the family of the anointed priests, and to the Jews in Egypt: greetings and good health.

2Having been saved by God from great dangers, we give him great thanks, as if arrayed against a king.

3For he himself drove out those arrayed in battle in the holy city into Persia.

4For when the leader and the force around him, which seemed invincible, had arrived, they were cut down in the temple of Nanaia, because the priests attending Nanaia had used deceit.

5For as Antiochus and his friends were accompanying her to the place, they were bringing him there to gain control of the money, under the pretext of inspection.

6And when the priests of Nanea had set them out, and he had come with a few men into the enclosure of the sanctuary, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus entered,

7After opening the secret door in the ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the leader, and after cutting them into pieces, they threw the heads to those outside.

8Blessed in every way is our God, who gave over those who acted wickedly.

9Since we are about to celebrate the purification of the temple on the twenty-fifth of Chislev, we thought it necessary to make this clear to you, so that you also may celebrate the festival of booths and of the fire, when Nehemiah, who built the temple and the altar, offered sacrifices.

10For when our fathers were being led away into Persia, the devout priests secretly took some of the fire from the altar and hid it in the hollow of a dry well, where they secured it so that the place would be unknown to everyone.

11And after many years had passed, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having been sent by the king of Persia, sent the descendants of the priests who had hidden it to get the fire.

12As they explained to us that they had found not fire but thick water, he ordered them, after drawing some out, to 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 upon it.

13But when it happened that time had passed and the sun shone out, though it had been overcast, a great fire was kindled, so that everyone marveled.

14And the priests made prayer when the sacrifice had been consumed, both the priests and all the others, with Jonathan beginning and the rest responding, as in Nehemiah.

15And the prayer had this form: “Lord God, creator of all things, the fearful and mighty and righteous and merciful one, the only king and good one,”

16the only provider, the only righteous one and almighty and eternal, the one who rescues Israel from every evil, who made the fathers chosen and sanctified them;

17Accept the sacrifice for all your people Israel, and preserve your portion and sanctify it.

18Gather our dispersion, free those who are enslaved among the nations, look upon those who are despised and abhorred; and let the nations know that you are our God.

19Punish those who oppress and outrage in arrogance;

20Plant your people in your holy place, just as Moses said.

21And the priests were singing the hymns.

22And when the things for the sacrifice had been consumed, Nehemiah ordered them to pour the remaining water on the larger stones.

23And when this happened, a flame was kindled; but when the light from the altar shone forth, it was consumed.

24But 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 appeared, from which also those with Nehemiah purified the sacrifices,

25And after enclosing it, the king made it a sanctuary, having tested the matter.

26And for us, who have undertaken the hardship of making the abridgment, the task is not easy, but a matter of sweat and sleeplessness;

27Just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet and seeks the advantage of others, yet for the gratitude of the many we will gladly endure the hardship;

28while leaving the exact treatment of each matter to the author, and while taking pains to follow the outlines of the epitome.

29For just as the architect of a new house must take thought for the whole structure, but the one undertaking to decorate it with painted ornament must consider the things suitable for adornment, so also, I think, it is with us.

30To go into detail and to make a circuit with the discourse, and to be overly busy with the particulars, belongs to the originator of the history;

31But one should allow the one producing the epitome to aim at brevity of expression and to forgo the elaborate treatment of the subject matter.

32So then, let us begin the narrative from this point, adding only this much to what has been said before; for it is foolish to be excessive before the history and to abridge the history itself.

33And some of those who had followed came near to mark the way, but they were not able to find it.

34But when Jeremiah learned of it, he reproved them and said, “The place will remain unknown until God gathers his people together and shows mercy.”

35And then the Lord will reveal these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as it was shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon also asked, that the place might be greatly sanctified.

36And it was also made clear that, as one having wisdom, he offered a sacrifice for the dedication and completion of the sanctuary.

37Just as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the things of the sacrifice, so also Solomon prayed to the Lord, and the fire came down and consumed the whole burnt offerings.

38And Moses said, “Because it was not eaten, the sin offering was consumed.”

39Likewise Solomon also kept the eight days.

40The same things were also related in the records and in the memoirs concerning Nehemiah, and how, in founding a library, he gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the writings of David, and letters of kings concerning votive offerings.

41Likewise also Judas gathered together for us all the things that had been scattered because of the war that had occurred, and they are with us.

42Therefore, if you have need, send those who will bring them to you.

43Since we are about to celebrate the purification, we have written to you. Therefore you will do well to observe the days.

44But God, who saved all his people and gave his inheritance to all, and the kingship, and the priesthood, and the sanctification,

45just as he promised through the law. For we hope in God that he will soon have mercy on us and gather us from under heaven into the holy place; for he rescued us from great evils and cleansed the place.

46The matters concerning Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, and the purification of the greatest sanctuary, and the dedication of the altar,

47and also the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,

48and the appearances from heaven that came to those who fought bravely with zeal for Judaism, so that, though they were few, they plundered the whole country and drove off the barbarian hordes,

49and to recover the sanctuary renowned throughout the whole inhabited world, and to free the city, and to restore the laws that were about to be abolished, since the Lord was showing them mercy with all forbearance,

50what has been set forth by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will attempt to abridge in one volume.

51For, seeing the flood of numbers and the difficulty for those who wish to enter into the narratives of the history because of the abundance of material,

52we have taken care that for those who wish to read there may be enjoyment, for those who are inclined to commit it to memory ease, and for all who encounter it benefit.

53And for us, who have undertaken the hardship of making the abridgment, the task is not easy, but one of sweat and sleeplessness;

54For just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet, or even seeks the benefit of others, yet for the gratitude of the many we will gladly endure the hardship;

55while leaving the detailed treatment of each matter to the author, and taking pains to follow the outlines of the epitome.

56For just as, in the case of a new house, the architect must take thought for the whole foundation, but the one undertaking to decorate and paint it must examine the things suitable for adornment, so also, I think, it is with us.

57But to go into detail, and to make a discourse into a full walk-through, and to be overly occupied with the particulars, belongs to the originator of the history;

58But the pursuit of brevity in expression, and the refusal of an elaborate treatment of the subject, should be allowed to one who is making an abridgment.

59Therefore let us begin the narrative from this point, adding only this much to what has been said before; for it is foolish to be excessive before the history, but to abridge the history itself.