Page:KJV 1772 Oxford Edition, vol. 2.djvu/179

Apocrypha. company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,

8 And burned the porch, and shed innocent blood : then we prayed unto the Lord, arid were heard ; we offered also sacrifices and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.

9 And now fee that ye keep the feast; of tabernacles in the month Calleu.

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 :

11 Insomuch as God hath delivered us from great perils, •we thank him highly, as having been in battle against a king.

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

13 For when the leader was come into Persia, and the army with him that seem ed invincible, they were slain in the temple of Nanea by the deceit of Nanea's priests.

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.

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 lhut the temple as soon as Antiochus was come in :

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.

17 Blessed be our God in all things, who hath' delivered up the ungodly.

18 Therefore whereas we are now purposed c to keep the purification of the tempie upon the five and twentieth day of the month d Casteu, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that ye also might keep//1, as thefeast of the tabernacles, and of the fire, which -was given us when Nee- mias offered sacrifice, after that he had huilded the temple and the altar.

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 o.pit without water, where they kept it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.

20 Now after many years, when it pleas ed God,, Neemias, heing sent from the king of Persia, did fend of the posterity of those priests that had. hid. to the fire: but when they told us they found no fire, but thick water ;

21 Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it j and when the sacri fices were laid on, Neemias commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon with the water.

22 When this was done, and the time came that the fun mone, which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that every man marvelled.

23 And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was consuming, Isay, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan be ginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Neemias did.

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,

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 :

26 Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and preserve thine own por tion, and sanctify it.

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.

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

29 Plant thy people again in thy holy place, e as Moses hath spoken.

30 And the priests fung psalms of thanksgiving.

31 Slow when the sacrifice was consumed, Neemias commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great stones.

32 When this was done, there was kin dled a flame: but it was consumed. by the light that shined from the altar..

33 So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia, that in the Slace, where the priests that were led away ad hid the fire, there appeared water, and that || Neemias had purified the fieri-fices therewith.

34 Then the king, inclosing the place, pay.. made it holy, after, he had tried the matter^.

35 And the king took, many gifts, and bestowed thereofon those whom he would gratify.

36 And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to fay, a clean sing ; but many men call it Nephi. .