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Page 4
2:14. And in like manner Judas also gathered together all such things as
were lost by the war we had, and they are in our possession.
2:15. Wherefore, if you want these things, send some that may fetch them
to you.
2:16. As we are then about to celebrate the purification, we have
written unto you: and you shall do well, if you keep the same days.
The purification... That is, the feast of the purifying or cleansing of
the temple.
2:17. And we hope that God, who hath delivered his people, and hath
rendered to all the inheritance, and the kingdom, and the priesthood,
and the sanctuary,
2:18. As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and
will gather us together from every land under heaven into the holy
place.
2:19. For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed
the place.
2:20. Now as concerning Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the
purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar:
2:21. As also the wars against Antiochus, the Illustrious, and his son,
Eupator:
2:22. And the manifestations that came from heaven to them, that behaved
themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being but a few
they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to flight the
barbarous multitude:
2:23. And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, and
delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the Lord
with all clemency shewing mercy to them.
2:24. And all such things as have been comprised in five books by Jason,
of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book.
2:25. For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that
they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because
of the multitude of the matter,
2:26. We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, that
it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they may more
easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive profit.
2:27. And as to ourselves indeed, in undertaking this work of abridging,
we have taken in hand no easy task; yea, rather a business full of
watching and sweat.
No easy task, etc... The spirit of God, that assists the sacred penmen,
does not exempt them from labour in seeking out the matter which they
are to treat of, and the order and manner in which they are to deliver
it. So St. Luke writ the gospel having diligently attained to all
things. Luke 1. ver. 3.
2:28. But as they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of
others: for the sake of many, we willingly undergo the labour.
2:29. Leaving to the authors the exact handling of every particular, and
as for ourselves, according to the plan proposed, studying to be brief.
2:30. For as the master builder of a new house must have care of the
whole building: but he that taketh care to paint it, must seek out fit
things for the adorning of it: so must it be judged of us.
2:31. For to collect all that is to be known, to put the discourse in
order, and curiously to discuss every particular point, is the duty of
the author of a history:
2:32. But to pursue brevity of speech, and to avoid nice declarations of
things, is to be granted to him that maketh an abridgment.
2:33. Here then we will begin the narration: let this be enough by way
of a preface: for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to
be short in the story itself.
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