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.
1:1. 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.
1:2. May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:
1:3. And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a
great heart, and a willing mind.
1:4. May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and
send you peace.
1:5. May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never
forsake you in the evil time.
1:6. And now here we are praying for you.
1:7. 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.
1:8. 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 loaves.
1:9. And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.
Scenopegia... Viz., the Encenia, or feast of the dedication of the
altar, called here Scenopegia, or feast of tabernacles, from being
celebrated with the like solemnity.
1:10. In the year one 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.
1:11. 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.
Such a king... Viz., Antiochus Sidetes, who began to make war upon the
Jews, whilst Simon was yet alive. 1 Mac. 15.39. And afterwards besieged
Jerusalem under John Hircanus. So that the Judas here mentioned, ver.
10, is not Judas Machabeus, who was dead long before the year 188 of the
kingdom of the Greeks, for he died in the year 146 of that epoch, (see
above 1 Mac. chap. 2., ver. 70, also the note on chap. 1, ver. 2,) but
either Judas the eldest son of John Hircanus, or Judas the Essene,
renowned for the gift of prophecy, who flourished about that time.
1:12. For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia, that have fought
against us, and the holy city.
1:13. 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.
Nanea... A Persian goddess, which some have taken for Diana, others for
Venus.
1:14. 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.
1:15. 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,
1:16. When Antiochus was come 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.
1:17. Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked.
1:18. 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.
1:19. For when our fathers were led into 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.
Persia... Babylonia, called here Persia, from being afterwards a part of
the Persian empire.
1:20. 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.
1:21. 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.
1:22. 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.
1:23. And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was
consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.
1:24. 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 good king,
1:25. 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:
1:26. Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy
own portion, and sanctify it.
1:27. 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.
1:28. Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with
pride.
1:29. Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.
1:30. And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.
1:31. And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water
that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.
1:32. Which being done, there was kindled a flame from them: but it was
consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
1:33. 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.
1:34. And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter,
made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened.
A temple... That is, an enclosure, or a wall round about the place where
the fire was hid, to separate it from profane uses, to the end that it
might be respected as a holy place.
1:35. 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.
1:36. And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted
purification. But many call it Nephi.