Priestly Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

2 Maccabees 1:23–29

Late 2nd Century BCE

²³And while the sacrifice was being consumed, the priests offered prayer—the priests and everyone. Jonathan led, and the rest responded, as did Nehemiah. ²⁴The prayer was to this effect:

“O Lord, Lord God, Creator of all things, you are awe-inspiring and strong and just and merciful, you alone are king and are kind, ²⁵you alone are bountiful, you alone are just and almighty and eternal. You rescue Israel from every evil; you chose the ancestors and consecrated them. ²⁶Accept this sacrifice on behalf of all your people Israel and preserve your portion and make it holy. ²⁷Gather together our scattered people, set free those who are slaves among the Gentiles, look on those who are rejected and despised, and let the Gentiles know that you are our God. ²⁸Punish those who oppress and are insolent with pride. ²⁹Plant your people in your holy place, as Moses promised.”

Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

The letter from the Jews of Jerusalem to the Jews of Egypt at the start of 2 Maccabees provides a justificatory narrative for the observance of Hanukkah. The author relates fancifully that at the time of the Babylonian exile, the priests hid away sacred fire from the altar. When they returned from exile, the fire had become the thick black liquid naphtha. Miraculously, this kindled the altar fire in the time of Nehemiah. The author imagines the following priestly prayer for the full restoration of Israel offered over the dedicatory sacrifice.

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Priestly Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

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