2 Maccabees 2:1-18

Common English Bible

2 One finds in the records that the prophet Jeremiah commanded those who were deported to take some of the fire, which is the story I’ve just related. ² Having given them the Law, the prophet commanded those who were deported not to forget the Lord’s commands or to be led astray in their thoughts when they saw gold and silver idols and how they were decorated. ³ With these kinds of words, he urged them not to forget the Law. ⁴ The same document also states that the prophet commanded, with a solemn divine pronouncement, that the meeting tent and the chest containing the covenant should go with him. The documents reported that he went to the mountain that Moses ascended to see the inheritance that God promised.

⁵ When Jeremiah arrived, he discovered a cave where he deposited the meeting tent, the covenant chest, and the incense altar. He blocked up the opening. ⁶ Some who had accompanied him went along to mark the way but couldn’t find it again. ⁷ When Jeremiah found out, he rebuked them and said: “The place will remain unknown until God gathers the people together again and shows mercy. ⁸ Then the Lord will disclose these things. The Lord’s glory will appear with the cloud, as they were revealed in the time of Moses and when Solomon prayed that the place might be made holy.”

⁹ It was also made clear that, since Solomon possessed wisdom, he offered up a sacrifice for the inauguration and completion of the temple. ¹⁰ Just as Moses prayed to the Lord and fire came down from heaven and consumed the components of the sacrifice, so also Solomon prayed and fire came down to consume the entirely burned offerings. ¹¹ Moses said, “Because the purification offering had not been eaten, it was destroyed by fire.” ¹² Likewise, Solomon observed the eight days.^[a]

¹³ Nehemiah also narrated the same things in his writings and journals. He also told how, when Solomon established a library, he gathered the scrolls concerning the kings and prophets and the scrolls of David and letters of kings regarding offerings for solemn promises. ¹⁴ In the same way, Judas also gathered together all the scrolls that went missing because of the war, so that those documents are now in our possession. ¹⁵ So if you need them, send messengers to carry them back.

¹⁶ Now as we are about to celebrate the Purification Festival, we write to you. Act honorably by observing the days. ¹⁷ God has saved all of his people and restored to all the inheritance, even the kingdom, the priesthood, and the holy place, ¹⁸ as he promised through the Law. We have hope in God that he will quickly extend mercy and gather us from everywhere under heaven into the holy place. He has brought us out of great evils and purified the place.