This eBook was produced by David Widger
from etext #1581 prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgiaand Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome.
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek,and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared withthe Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard ChallonerA.D. 1749-1752
This second book of MACHABEES is not a continuation of the historycontained in the first: nor does is come down so low as the first does:but relates many of the same facts more at large, and adds otherremarkable particulars, omitted in the first book, relating to the stateof the Jews, as well before as under the persecution of ANTIOCHUS. Theauthor, who is not the same with that of the first book, has given (aswe learn from chap. 2.20, etc.) a short abstract of what JASON of Cyrenehad written in the five volumes, concerning JUDAS and his brethren. Hewrote in Greek, and begins with two letters, sent by the Jews ofJerusalem to their brethren in Egypt.
2 Machabees Chapter 1
Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They givethanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren tokeep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculousfire.
1:1. To the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt; the brethren,the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send healthand good peace.
1:2. May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he madewith Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants:
1:3. And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with agreat heart, and a willing mind.
1:4. May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, andsend you peace.
1:5. May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and neverforsake you in the evil time.
1:6. And now here we are praying for you.
1:7. When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, weJews wrote to you in the trouble and violence that came upon us in thoseyears, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from thekingdom.
1:8. They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to theLord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, andlighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves.
1:9. And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of Casleu.
Scenopegia… Viz., the Encenia, or feast of the dedication of thealtar, called here Scenopegia, or feast of tabernacles, from beingcelebrated with the like solemnity.
1:10. In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is atJerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, thepreceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed priests,and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare.
1:11. Having been delivered by God out of great da