It appeareth by the records that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified, and how 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. And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts. It 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.

He exhorted them that they should not forget the commandments of the Lord, nor be led astray in their hearts by seeing images of gold and silver with their adornments, and that they should recover the temple, the fame of which was renowned throughout the whole world, and free the city and revive the laws which were almost fading away, for the Lord had shown them great mercy.

And with such like words exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.

It 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.

And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.

And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.

Which when Jeremy 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.

Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed unto Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.

The same also declared how he, being wise, offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.

Also Judas gathered together all such things as were lost by reason of the war we had, and they are with us.

Wherefore if ye have need thereof, send some to fetch them unto you.

Forasmuch therefore as we are about to celebrate the purification, we have written unto you, and ye shall do well if ye keep the days.

As it was promised in the law, we hope that He 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 purged the place.

The acts of Judas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,

And the signs that happened from heaven in the field to such as behaved themselves manfully for the Jews’ religion; so that being but a few, they overcame the whole country, and chased out the barbarous multitudes.

These things, I say, Jason of Cyrene in five books digested: whom we have assayed to abridge into one volume.

For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story, for the multitude of the matter,

We 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.

Therefore to us, that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging, it was not easy, but a task of sweat and watching.

No more than it is easy for him that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasing of many we will so willingly sustain this labour.

Giving diligence to leave to the author the exact handling of every point, and to ourselves to embrace only the method of the abridgement.

For as the master builder of a new house must have regard to the whole frame; and the craftsman that setteth forth curious work, and seeketh to make it acceptable in point of comeliness, must be careful also: so doth it fare with us.

For to stand upon every point, and go over things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first author of the story.

But to use brevity, and avoid much speaking, is to be granted to him that seeketh to make an abridgement.

Here 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.