2Mac 1:1 

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: 

2Mac 1:2 

God be gracious unto you, and remember his covenant that he 

made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants; 

2Mac 1:3 

And give you all an heart to serve him, and to do his will, 

with a good courage and a willing mind; 

2Mac 1:4 

And open your hearts in his law and commandments, and send 

you peace, 

2Mac 1:5 

And hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and never 

forsake you in time of trouble. 

2Mac 1:6 

And now we be here praying for you. 

2Mac 1:7 

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, 

2Mac 1:8 

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. 

2Mac 1:9 

And now see that ye keep the feast of tabernacles in the 

month Casleu. 

2Mac 1:10 

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: 

2Mac 1:11 

Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, we thank 

him highly, as having been in battle against a king. 

2Mac 1:12 

For he cast them out that fought within the holy city. 

2Mac 1:13 

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. 

2Mac 1:14 

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. 

2Mac 1:15 

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: 

2Mac 1:16 

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. 

2Mac 1:17 

Blessed be our God in all things, who hath delivered up the 

ungodly. 

2Mac 1:18 

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. 

2Mac 1:19 

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. 

2Mac 1:20 

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; 

2Mac 1:21 

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. 

2Mac 1:22 

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. 

2Mac 1:23 

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. 

2Mac 1:24 

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, 

2Mac 1:25 

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: 

2Mac 1:26 

Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and 

preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it. 

2Mac 1:27 

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. 

2Mac 1:28 

Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong. 

2Mac 1:29 

Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath 

spoken. 

2Mac 1:30 

And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving. 

2Mac 1:31 

Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the 

water that was left to be poured on the great stones. 

2Mac 1:32 

When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was 

consumed by the light that shined from the altar. 

2Mac 1:33 

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. 

2Mac 1:34 

Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he 

had tried the matter. 

2Mac 1:35 

And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those 

whom he would gratify. 

2Mac 1:36 

And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as 

to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.