2 Maccabees 1:11-18

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

¹¹ Having been saved by God out of grave dangers, we thank him greatly for taking our side against the king,^{[a] 12} for he drove out those who fought against the holy city.^{(A) 13} When the leader reached Persia with a force that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea by a deception employed by the priests of the goddess^[b] Nanea.^{(B) 14} On the pretext of intending to marry her, Antiochus came to the place together with his Friends, to secure most of its treasures as a dowry.^{(C) 15} When the priests of the temple of Nanea had set out the treasures and Antiochus had come with a few men inside the wall of the sacred precinct, they closed the temple as soon as he entered it. ¹⁶ Opening a secret door in the ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the leader and his men; they dismembered them and cut off their heads and threw them to the people outside. ¹⁷ Blessed in every way be our God, who has delivered up those who have behaved impiously.

Fire Consumes Nehemiah’s Sacrifice

¹⁸ Since on the twenty-fifth day of Chislev we shall celebrate the purification of the temple, we thought it necessary to notify you, in order that you also may celebrate the Festival of Booths^[c] and the fire given when Nehemiah, who built the temple and the altar, offered sacrifices.^(D)