To the brethren, the Jews that are in Egypt, health and peace from the brethren, the Jews that are in Jerusalem and in Judea, wish great prosperity. In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the elders and Judas, to Aristobulus, King Ptolemy's master, who is of the stock of the anointing priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, wish health and prosperity. For so much as God hath delivered us out of great perils, we thank Him highly, and much praise Him, because we have been delivered from a great war, even from the King Antigonus, and all his host.

God bless you, and remember His covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, His faithful servants. He commanded them to draw and bring it. And when the sacrifices were brought, Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereon with this water. And they did so. And when the sun shone, which before was covered with clouds, there was a great fire kindled, so that all men marvelled. And whilst the sacrifice was consuming, the priests in prayer did call upon the Lord, and Jonathan began, and the rest answered him. And Nehemiah prayed after this manner: O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, dreadful, strong, righteous, and merciful, who only art the King and the Righteous, who only art gracious, just, and almighty, eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose out our fathers and sanctify them; Accept this sacrifice for all Thy people Israel, and keep Thine inheritance, and sanctify it, and gather our dispersed, and deliver them that are in bondage among the heathen, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred, and let the Gentiles know that Thou art our God.

And give you all an heart to serve Him, and to do His will with a good courage and a willing mind, and open your hearts in His law and commandments, and send you peace.

And He will hear your prayers, and be at one with you, and will not forsake you in time of trouble.

We are here praying for you.

We wrote unto you in the reign of Demetrius, in the year one hundred and ninety-nine, in the tribulation and in the constraint that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company went out of the holy land and kingdom.

For they burnt the gate and shed innocent blood: then we cried unto the Lord, and He heard us; and we offered sacrifice, and fine flour, and lighted the lamps, and set forth the bread.

And now see that ye keep the days of the tabernacles in the month Chisleu.

We thank God highly, that He saved us from great perils, when we were appointed to the king.

For when the king was in Persia leading an army which none could withstand in the temple of Nanea, he was beguiled by the priests of Nanea.

Then the priests of Nanea brought forth the moneys: and he with a few men entered into the inner part of the temple, and then they shut the temple.

Now Antiochus, having entered, the priests of Nanea opened a secret door that was in the temple floor, and cast great stones upon him, and then quartered them and cut off their heads, and cast them to those that were without.

For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that were then devout took of the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in a hollow place of a pit, where no water was, and there kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men.

Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah was sent from the king of Persia hither, who sent of the posterity of those priests that had hid the fire, to get it. But when they declared unto us that they found no fire, but thick water.

And punish the oppressor and the proud.

And plant Thy people in Thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.

And the priests sang hymns.

And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemiah commanded that the water which was left should be poured upon the great stones.

When this was done, there was kindled a flame; but by the light that was shining from the altar, it was put out.

So the matter was made known, and it was told the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests that were carried away had hid the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemiah and those that were with him purified the sacrifices.

Then the king compassed the place about, and made it holy, after he had tried the matter.

And the king took great presents and bestowed upon them.

And Nehemiah called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to say, purification; but many call it Nephi.