1It is also found in the records, that Jeremiah the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified:
2and 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, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments.
3And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.
4It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God.
5And when Jeremiah came thither, he found a hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
6And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.
7Which when Jeremiah perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy.
8Then shall the Lord show them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shown under Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honorably sanctified.
9It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.
10And as when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifices: even so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings.
11And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.
12So Solomon kept those eight days.
13The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Nehemiah; 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.
14In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us.
15Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.
16Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you, and ye shall do well, if ye keep the same days.
17We hope also, that the God, that delivered all his people, and gave them all a heritage, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the sanctuary,
18as he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of every land under heaven into the holy place: for he hath delivered us out of great troubles, and hath purified the place.
19Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,
20and the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,
21and the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honor for Judaism: so that, being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,
22and recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and upheld the laws which were going down, the Lord being gracious unto them with all favor:
23all these things, I say , being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.
24For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the variety of the matter,
25we have been 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 whose hands it comes might have profit.
26Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labor of abridging, it was not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching;
27even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains;
28leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular, and laboring to follow the rules of an abridgement.
29For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building: but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I think it is with us.
30To stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story:
31but to use brevity, and avoid much laboring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgement.
32Here then will we begin the story: only adding thus much to that which hath been said, that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself.