2 Maccabees

It is recorded in the archives that the prophet Jeremiah ordered the exiles to take the fire, as we have already said.

After giving them the law, he urged them not to forget God’s commandments or be dazzled by the silver and gold idols with all their decoration.

He talked to them about many similar topics, warning them never to lose their love for the law.

It is also mentioned in these ancient writings that the prophet Jeremiah, obeying orders from Heaven, commanded that the Ark of the Covenant, along with its tent, be taken with him. He then went to the mountain that Moses had previously climbed, and from where he had viewed the Promised Land.

There, Jeremiah discovered a cave and brought in the Ark, the tent covering it, and the altar of incense. Afterwards, he sealed the entrance with stones.

Some of those who followed him went back to mark the way, but they could not find it anymore.

When Jeremiah learned this, he rebuked them and said, “This place will remain hidden until God shows mercy to his scattered people and gathers them together.

Then the Lord will reveal these things again, and his glory will appear in the cloud, as it did during the time of Moses and when Solomon asked God to come and consecrate his house.”

It was also recorded in these archives how Solomon, inspired by his wisdom, offered the sacrifice of dedication and completion of the temple.

And just as fire had come down from heaven through Moses’ prayer to consume the offerings and the sacrificial victim, fire also came down from heaven through Solomon’s prayer. It burned up the holocausts.

And what Moses had said was fulfilled: since the sin offering was not eaten, the fire consumed it.

Solomon also celebrated the feast for eight days.

This information is also available in the archives and Memories from Nehemiah’s era. It is said that Nehemiah built a library and collected books about the kings and prophets, as well as David’s writings and the letters of the kings regarding offerings.

Similarly, Judas has gathered all the books that were scattered because of the war we endured, and now they are in our possession.

If you need any of them, send someone to get them.

We mentioned that we are about to celebrate the temple’s purification feast; you should also take the opportunity to celebrate these feast days,

for God has saved all his people and restored their land. He allowed us to rebuild the kingdom, the temple, and the worship offered to him in that temple,

as is commanded in his law. God, as we hope, will soon show us mercy and gather us from everywhere to the Holy Place, since he has rescued us from great perils and purified this Place.

Prologue

Jason of Cyrene wrote the story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers. He narrated the purification of the temple of the Most High, the dedication of the altar,

the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,

and the heavenly manifestations in favor of those who fought bravely and gloriously for Judaism. Although few in number, they liberated the entire land and drove hordes of foreigners into flight.

They regained the temple renowned throughout the world, liberated the city, and re-established the laws, which were nearly abolished, for the Lord was gracious to them in his great kindness.

Jason of Cyrene has outlined all of this in five volumes. We will now attempt to summarize everything in one single book.

We understand that these books contain many figures and that numerous facts make it difficult for those trying to understand this history.

So, we have focused on providing something engaging for readers, easy to remember, and valuable for anyone who reads it.

For those of us who have taken on the difficult task of summarizing, it has not been easy and has required as much effort

as it would take to prepare a banquet that would satisfy everyone. But just as those who prepare a banquet have endured this labor willingly to serve others, we have done the same.

So we leave the task of accurately recounting all the details to the historian, and we have condensed this massive work into a concise summary.

Just as the architect of a new house must be concerned with the entire construction, while the painters and decorators focus only on their specific tasks, so it is with us.

The analysis of details and the discussion of disputable points belong to the historian.

But for someone trying to condense a report, his task is to summarize, not to present a complete narration of facts and events.

So, let’s start our story without dwelling too much on what’s been said before, as it would be pointless to extend the preface while shortening the main history.