CHAP. II.
IT is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it been signified :
2 And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, b when they fee images of silver and gold, with their ornaments.
2 And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law mould not depart from their hearts.
4 It was also contained in the fame writ ing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into 'Dtut.ji. ' tnc mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God.
5 And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
6 And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.
7 Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it ihall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together, and re ceive them unto mercy.
8 Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, J as it was shewed under Moses, and • as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.
9 It was also declared, that he being wise ' offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of ' the finishing of the temple.
10 And ea« when Moles prayed unto the Lord, the fire came down from heaven, and Chron. consumed the sacrifices : even k so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings.
1 1 And 1 Moses said, Because the si n offer ing was not to be eaten, it was consumed.
12 So Solomon kept those eight days.
1 3 The fame things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Neemias ; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.
14 In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that |j were lost by reason of the Was we had, and they re- during tit main with us. war'
1 c Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.
16 Whereas we then k are about to cele- kch-«-««- brate the purification, we have written un to you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the I same days. m Kings!.
17 f We hope also, that the God, that Na te God delivered all his people, and gave them it is tint all an heritage, and the kingdom, and the {^«^, priesthood, and the sanctuary, and mt-'
18 1 As he promised in the law, will £££ shortly have mercy upon us, and gather and the' us together out or every land under hea- Jj£j**' ven into the holy place : for he hath de- prieshood, livered us out of great troubles, and hath purified the place.
19 Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, »«>«j »" and his brethren, and the purification of fir^hipe the great temple, and the dedication of in God that me aicai,
20 And the wars against Antiochus Epi- 'ch. 1. »9. phanes, and Eupator his son,
21 And m the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism : so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,
22 And recovered again the temple re nowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were go ing down, the Lord being gracious unto them with all favour :
7.-All these things, Ifay, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.
24 For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that de sire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,
25 We have bean careful, that they that will read may have delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease, and that all into whole hands it comes might have profit.
26 Therefore to us, that have taken up on us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching j
27 Even as it is no ease unto him that pre- pareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others : yet || for the pleasuring of many we f, htr.ve will undertake gladly this great pains ;
28 Leaving to the author the exact hand- ling of every particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.
