2nd Maccabees Chapter 1

Letters to the Jews of Egypt

First Letter

*‎ These letters are invitations to celebrate the Feast of Dedication For more info click here1:1 The brothers, the Jews that are at Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַם‎
Transliteration: yᵊrûšālam – Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im – proper locative noun meaning “teaching of peace” or possession of peace – also called the city of David and Zion – the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split For more info click here and in the land of Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here, wish to the brothers, the Jews that are throughout Egypt greetings and untroubled peace שָׁלוֹם ‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here:
1:2 May God prosper you, and remember his covenant that he made with Abraham אַבְרָהָם
/ˈeɪbrəhæm, -həm/; ‎‎, Modern: ʾAvraham, As recounted in the Torah, his name was originally Avram which means “High Father” – “av” (אב) “father”, “ram” (רם) “high” – with the “ha” (ה) added in mark of his covenant with God. For more info click here
, Isaacיִצְחָק
(Yīṣḥāq) meaning “he will laugh”, reflecting the laughter, in disbelief, of Abraham and Sarah, when told by God that they would have a child., and Jacobיַעֲקֹב
(/ˈdʒeɪkəb/; Modern: Yaʿaqōv (help·info), Tiberian: Yaʿăqōḇ; Arabic: يَعْقُوب, romanized: Yaʿqūb; Greek: Ἰακώβ, romanized: Iakṓb) the name Yaʿaqōv יעקב is derived from ʿaqev עָקֵב “heel”, as Jacob (later called Israel) was born grasping the heel of his twin brother Esau. for more info click here, his faithful servants;
1:3 May He give you all a heart to serve Him, and to do His will, with a generous mind and a willing spirit רוּחַ
Transliteration: rûaḥ Pronunciation: roo’-akh feminine noun Meaning: wind, breath, mind, spirit For more info click here;
1:4 And open your hearts in His Torahתּוֹרָה‎
Tōrā,/ˈtɔːrə, ˈtoʊrə/; law, teaching, direction, instruction – The first five books of the Bible or also called “the books of Moses” comes from an archery term meaning to shoot. and commandments, and give you peace שָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here,
1:5 May He hear your prayers, and be reconciled with you, and never abandon you in time of evil.
1:6 Such is our prayer for you.
1:7 During the reign of Demetrius, in the hundred sixty ninth year, we the Jews wrote to you as follows “In the extremity of trouble that came on us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the Holyקָדְשׁוֹ‎
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here Land and the kingdom,
1:8 burning down the Temple Gate, and shedding innocent blood: then we prayed to YAHWEH יְהֹוָה‎
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here, and were heard; we offered also sacrifices and wheat flour, and lit the lamps, and set out the loaves.
1:9 And now see that y’all keep the Feast  of  Tabernaclesהַסֻּכּוֹת
Transliteration: miškān dwelling places, tenst, tabernacles, shelters, booths For more info click here
 in the month of Casleu (or Kislev) in the year one hundred eighty eight.

Second Letter

Address

*‎ The second letter alleges a document 40 years older than the first one, being an invitation (verse 18) to the actual devotion of the Temple, that occurred on Chislev 25 147 (Dec 15, 164 BC) The content combines rumors about the death of Antiochus Epiphanes with popular tradition about Nehemiah and Jeremiah. The historic accuracy is not guaranteed From the New Jerusalem Bible
1:10 In the hundred eighty eighth year, the people that were at Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַם‎
Transliteration: yᵊrûšālam – Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah’-im – proper locative noun meaning “teaching of peace” or possession of peace – also called the city of David and Zion – the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split For more info click here and in Judeaיהודה‎
(Yəhūda Greek: Ἰουδαία Latin: Iudaea) or Judaea – a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name Judea is a Greek and Roman adaptation of the name “Judah”, which originally encompassed the territory of the Israelite tribe of that name and later of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. For more info click here, and the council, and Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here, sent greeting and health to Aristobulus, king Ptolemy’s tutor, who was of the family of the anointed priests כֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here, and to the Jews that were in Egypt:

Thanksgiving for the Punishment of Antiochus

1:11 Since we have been rescued by God  from great perils, we thank him greatly, as having been in battle against a king.
1:12 Because he threw out those that fought inside the Holyקָדְשׁוֹ‎
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here City.
1:13 Because when the leader had reached Persia (Iran), and the army with him that seemed invincible, they were killed in the temple of Nanayaנני
Greek: Ναναια or Νανα was a Mesopotamian goddess of love closely associated to the Ephesian Artemis and she was referred to as bēlet ru’āmi, “lady of love” The temple that Antiochus IV proposed to to plunder was that of Artemis Elymais , For more info on the word click here as a ruse utilized by Nanayaנני
Greek: Ναναια or Νανα was a Mesopotamian goddess of love closely associated to the Ephesian Artemis and she was referred to as bēlet ru’āmi, “lady of love” The temple that Antiochus IV proposed to to plunder was that of Artemis Elymais , For more info on the word click here‘s priests who served that goddess.
1:14 Because Antiochus, thought he was marrying Nanayaנני
Greek: Ναναια or Νανα was a Mesopotamian goddess of love closely associated to the Ephesian Artemis and she was referred to as bēlet ru’āmi, “lady of love” The temple that Antiochus IV proposed to to plunder was that of Artemis Elymais , For more info on the word click here, came into the place, and his friends that were with him, to receive treasures in name of a dowry.
1:15 Which when the priests of Nanayaנני
Greek: Ναναια or Νανα was a Mesopotamian goddess of love closely associated to the Ephesian Artemis and she was referred to as bēlet ru’āmi, “lady of love” The temple that Antiochus IV proposed to to plunder was that of Artemis Elymais , For more info on the word click here had put on display, and when he had entered with a small company to the circle the temple, they shut the temple as soon as Antiochus had come in:
1:16 And opening a trap door of the ceiling, they threw stones like thunderbolts, and struck down the leader, then cut him into pieces, and threw his head to those that were waiting  outside.
1:17 Blessed is our Elohim אֱלֹהֵינוּ
Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim don’t know for sure that this is the word that was used but other passages in the past used this for our God for more info on the word click here in all things, who has delivered up the ungodly.

The miraculous preservation of the sacred fire

1:18 So because we are now purposed to keep the purification of the temple on the twenty fifth day of the month Casleu (or Kislev), we thought it proper to notify you of it, so that y’all may also keep it, as the feast of the Tabernaclesהַסֻּכּוֹת
Transliteration: miškān dwelling place, tent, tabernacle, shelter, booth For more info click here, and of the fire, which was given us when Nehemiah offered sacrifice, after that he had built the temple and the altar.
1:19 Because when our forefathers were led into Persia (Iran), the devout priestsכֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here of the time took some the fire of the altar , and hid it secretly in a hole like a dry well , where they kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to anyone.
1:20 Now after many years, when it pleased our Elohim אֱלֹהֵינוּ
Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim don’t know for sure that this is the word that was used but other passages in the past used this for our God for more info on the word click here, Nehemiah, being commissioned by the king of Persia (Iran), sent the descendants of the priestsכֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here that had hidden the fire to look for it: but when they reported that in fact they hadn’t found fire, but a thick liquid;
1:21 Then Nehemiah ordered he them to draw some up, and to bring it back; and when the sacrifices were laid on it, Nehemiah commanded the priestsכֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here to pour this liquid over the wood and the things laid on it.
1:22 When this had been done, and the time came that the sun was shining, which previously been hidden in the clouds, a great fire flared up, to the astonishment of everyone.
1:23 And the priestsהַכֹּהֵן
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here offered a prayer while the sacrifice was being consumed, Jonathan beginning with all the priestsכֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here, and all the rest, and the rest responding with Nehemiah.
1:24 And the prayer was in this manner; O Adonaiהָאָדוֹן
the Lord, Pluralis majestatis taken as singular) is the possessive form of adon (“Lord”), along with the first-person singular pronoun enclitic. As with Elohim, Adonai’s grammatical form is usually explained as a plural of majesty. For more info click here, YAHWEH יְהֹוָה‎
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here Elohimאֱלֹהִים
romanized: ʾĔlōhīm: [(ʔ)eloˈ(h)im]), the plural of אֱלוֹהַּ‎ (ʾĔlōah), is a Hebrew word meaning “gods”. Although the word is plural, in the Hebrew Bible it most often takes singular verbal or pronominal agreement and refers to a single deity particularly the God of Israel In other verses it refers to the singular gods of other nations or to deities in the plural A name for GOD — God The Creator. For more info click here, Creator of all things, who is awesome and strong, just, and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
1:25 The only provider of all things, the only just, almighty, and everlasting, you that delivered Israel from all evil, and chose our forefathers, and sanctify them:
1:26 Accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel, and protect your heritage, and bless it.
1:27 Gather those together that are dispersed from us, deliver those in slavery among the nationsהַגּוֹיִם‎
Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:—the Gentiles, the heathen, the nations, the people. For more info click here, look favorably on those that are despised and abhorred, and let the nationsהַגּוֹיִם‎
Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:—the Gentiles, the heathen, the nations, the people. For more info click here know that you are our Elohim אֱלֹהֵינוּ
Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim don’t know for sure that this is the word that was used but other passages in the past used this for our God for more info on the word click here.
1:28 Punish those that oppress us, and insult us by their rudeness,
1:29 and plant your people firmly in your Holyקָדְשׁוֹ‎
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here Place, like Mosesמֹשֶׁה
Meaning of the name: Linguist Abraham Yahuda, based on the spelling given in the Tanakh, argues that it combines “water” or “seed” and “pond, expanse of water,” thus yielding the sense of “child of the Nile” For more info click here had vowed.
1:30 And the priestsהַכֹּהֵן
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here sung psalms of thanksgiving accompanied by the harp.
1:31 When the sacrifice was burnt, Nehemiah ordered the remaining water to be poured on the large stones.
1:32 When this was done, there was a flame blazed up: but it was consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
1:33 So when this matter became known, it was told the king of Persia (Iran), that in the place, where the exiled priestsכֹּהֲנִים
kôhêneem, ko-hane’ Kohenim = priests, Plural principal officers or chief rulers For more info click here had hidden the fire, a liquid had appeared, and that Nehemiah had purified the sacrificial offerings with it.
1:34 Then the king, enclosing the place, pronounced it Holyקָדְשׁוֹ‎
Transliteration qōḏeš Pronunciation ko’-desh a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:—consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. For more info click here, after he had tried the matter.
1:35 And the king took many gifts, and bestowed of it on those whom he would gratify.
1:36 And Nehemiah called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi.