2nd Maccabees Chapter 2

Jeremiah Conceals the tent, ark and altar


2:1 It is on record, that Jeremiah the prophet ordered the refugees to take of the fire, as it has been indicated:
2:2 And how that the prophet, having given them the 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.
, warned them not to forget the commandments of 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 that they shouldn’t stumble in their minds, at the sight of silver and gold statues or their adornments.
2:3 And with other such guidance he urged  them not to let the 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.
disappear from their hearts.
2:4 It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned by God, commanded the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּן
Transliteration: miškān dwelling place, tent, shelter, tabernacle, booth For more info click here
and the ark to go with him, as he set out for the mountain, where 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
climbed up, to see the heritage of God.
2:5 And when Jeremiah arrived there, he found a hollow cave, where he put the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּן
Transliteration: miškān dwelling place, tent, shelter, tabernacle, booth For more info click here
, and the ark, and the altar of incense, afterwards blocking the door.
2:6 And some of those that went back later to mark the wayדֶּרֶךְ
Transliteration:dereḵ Pronunciation:deh’-rek way, road, distance, journey, manner, path, direction For more info click here
, but they couldn’t find it.
2:7 When Jeremiah learned this, he reprimanded them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gathers his people together again and show them his mercy.
2:8 Then 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
will show them these things, and the glory of 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
be seen, and the cloud too, as it was revealed in the time of 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
, and as when Solomonשְׁלֹמֹה
His two names mean “peaceful” and “friend of God”, both considered “predictive of the character of his reign Reign 970–931 BCE (hypothesised)For more info click here
prayed that 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
place might be honorably sanctified.
2:9 It was also recorded, that Solomonשְׁלֹמֹה
His two names mean “peaceful” and “friend of God”, both considered “predictive of the character of his reign Reign 970–931 BCE (hypothesised)For more info click here
in his wisdom offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.
2:10 Like when 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 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
, the fire came down from the heavensהַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here
, and consumed the sacrifices: so Solomonשְׁלֹמֹה
His two names mean “peaceful” and “friend of God”, both considered “predictive of the character of his reign Reign 970–931 BCE (hypothesised)For more info click here
also prayed, and the fire came down from the heavens הַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here
, and consumed the burnt offerings.
2:11 And 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
said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.
2:12 So Solomonשְׁלֹמֹה
His two names mean “peaceful” and “friend of God”, both considered “predictive of the character of his reign Reign 970–931 BCE (hypothesised)For more info click here
kept those eight days.

Nehemiah’s library


2:13 In addition to the above it was also reported in the writings and commentaries of Nehemiah; and how he founded a library making a collection of the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and the writings of Davidדָּוִד
/ˈdeɪvɪd/; romanized: Dāwīḏ, “beloved one”) Historians of the Ancient Near East agree that David probably lived around 1000 BCE. For more info click here
, and the letters of the kings on the subject of offerings.
2:14 Similarly 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
gathered together all those books that were lost because of the war, that we had, and we still have
2:15 If y’all have need of them, send someone to bring them to you.

An invitation to the dedication


2:16 Since we are about to celebrate the purification, we have written to you, and y’all shall do well, if y’all observe the same days.
2:17 We hope also, that Elohim הָאֱלֹהִים
the God – Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim for more info on the word click here
, that saved all his people, and granting them all a heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,
2:18 As he promised in the 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.
, will shortly have mercy on us, and gather us together out of everywhere under the heavensהַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here
to 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
Place: for he has delivered us out of great evils, and has purified the place.

II: Compilers Preface


2:19 Now as concerning Judas Maccabaeusיהודה 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
, and his brothers, and the purification of the great Temple, and the dedication of the altar,
2:20 And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,
2:21 And the celestial manifestations that came from the heavens הַשָּׁמַיִם  
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here
to strengthen the brave champions of Judaism so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,
2:22 And recovered the temple renowned all over the world , and freed the city, and upheld the laws by then all but abolished, 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
being gracious to them with all favor:
2:23 All this, already declared
in five books by Jason of Cyrene , we will attempt to condense into a single book.
2:24 Considering the flood of statistics involved, and the difficulty encountered, because of mass of material, by those who wish to immerse themselves in historical records,
2:25 We have aimed to please those who wish to read, to make it easy for those who enjoy committing things to memory, and to profit all readers.
2:26 For us, that have taken on us the toil of abbreviating, it hasn’t been an easy task, but a matter of sweat and midnight oil;
2:27 Just as it is not easy for one who prepares a banquet whose aim it is to satisfy a variety of tastes: However for the sake of many we will gladly undertake this drudgery;
2:28 Leaving accuracy of detail to the historian, while devoting our effort to tracing outlines in this condensed version.
2:29 Just as the master builder of a new house must be concerned with the whole construction, while the one who undertakes its painting and decoration has to consider only what is suitable for its adornment,  in my judgement is the case with us.
2:30 To make the subject his own, to discuss matters from every side, and to take trouble with details, belongs to the original historian:
2:31 But to use compression, and avoid much laboring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.
2:32 So now let us begin our story: without anymore to what has already been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long introduction, and to make the story itself short.

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