1   To the bretheren, the Iewes that are through out Ægypt, the bretheren, the Iewes that are in Ierusalem, and that are in the countrie of Iurie, send health, and good peace. ^note

2   God doe good to you, and remember his testament, that he spake to Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob, his faithful seruantes:

3   and geue he

vnto you al an hart to worshippe him, and to doe his wil with a great hart, and a willing minde.

4   Open he your hart in his law, and in his precepts, and make peace.

5   Heare he your prayers, and be he reconciled vnto you, neither forsake he you in the euil time.

6   And now here we are praying for you.

7   When Demetrius reigned, in the yeare one hundreth sixtie nine, ^note we Iewes wrote vnto you in the tribulation, and violence, that came vpon vs in these yeares, since Iason reuolted from the holie land, and from the kingdom.

8   They burnt the gate, and shed innocent bloud and we prayed to our Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifice, and fine floore, and lighted the lampes, and setforth there breades.

9   And now celebrate ye the dayes of Scenopegia of the moneth Cesleu.

10   In the yeare one hundreth eightie eight, the people that is at Ierusalem, and in Iurie, and the senate, and ^note Iudas, to Aristobolus the maister of Ptolomee the king, who is of the stocke of the annointed priestes, and to those Iewes, that are in Ægypt health, and welfare.

11   Being deliuered by God out of great dangers, we geue him thankes magnifically, as who haue fought against such a king.

12   For he made them swarme out of Persis, that haue fought against vs, and the holie citie.

13   For when he was captaine in Persis, & with him a very great armie, he fel in the temple of Nania, being deceiued by the counsel of Naneaes priestes.

14   For Antiochus, & his freindes came to the place as to dwel with her, & that he might receiue much money vnder the title of a dowrie.

15   And when Naneaes priestes had layde it forth, and he with a few was entered within the compasse of the temple, they shut the temple,

16   when Antiochus was entered in: & a secrete entrance of the temple being opened, casting stones they stroke the duke, and them that were with him, and diuided them in peeces, and cutting of their heades they threw them forth.

17   Blessed be the God in al thinges, who hath deliuered vp the impious.

18   We therefore meaning to keepe the purification of the temple the fiue and twentith day of the moneth Casleu, thought it necessary to signifie vnto you: that you also may kepe the day of Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was geuen when Nehemias, after the temple was built and the altar, offered sacrifice.

19   For when our fathers were caryed ^note into Persis, the priestes that then were the worshippers of God, taking the fire from the altar, hid it secretly in a valley where there was a pitte deepe,

and dry, and therin they saued it, so that the place was vnknowne to al men,

20   But when manie yeares had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias should be sent of the king of Persis: he sent the nephewes of those priestes, that had hid it, to seeke out the fire: and as they told vs, they found not fire, but ^notethicke water.

21   And he bad them draw, & bring vnto him: and the sacrifices, that were layd on, the priest Nehemias commanded to be sprinckled with the same water, and the wood, and the thinges that were layde therupon.

22   And as this was done, & the time was come that the sunne shone forth, which before was in a cloude, there ^note was kindled a great fire, so that al merueiled.

23   And al the priestes made prayer, whiles the sacrifice was consuming, Ionathas beginning, and the rest answering.

24   And the prayer of Nehemias was in this maner: O Lord God creatour of al, dreadful, and strong, iust, and merciful, which only art the good king,

25   only giuer, only iust, and omnipotent, and eternal, which deliuerest Israel from al euil, which madest the fathers elect, and didst sanctifie them.

26   Receiue the sacrifice for al thy people Israel, and kepe thy part, and sanctifie it.

27   Gather together our dispersion, deliuer them, that serue the Gentils, and regard the contemned & abhorred: that the Gentils may know that thou art our God.

28   Afflict them that oppresse vs, and that doe contumelie in pride.

29   Place thy people in thy holie place, as Moyses sayd.

30   And the priestes sang hymnes, til the sacrifice was consumed.

31   And when the sacrifice was consumed, of the rest of the water Nehemias c&obar;manded the greater stones to be throughly washed.

32   Which thing as it was done, out of them ^note was kindled a flame: but ^note by light also, that shined from the altar, it was consumed.

33   And as the thing was made manifest, it was told the king of the Persians, that in the place, wherin those priestes that were transported, had hid fire, there appeared water, with the which Nehemias, and they that were with him, purified the sacrifices.

34   And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, made a temple for it, that he might approue that which was done.

35   And when he had approued it, he gaue to the priestes manie good thinges, and diuerse giftes, and taking them with his owne hand, he gaue to them. And Nehemias called this place ^note Nephthar, which is interpreted purification. But it is called with manie Nephi.

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