s
offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built.

1:19. For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that then
were worshippers of God, took privately the fire from the altar, and hid
it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there they
kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men.

Persia... Babylonia, called here Persia, from being afterwards a part of
the Persian empire.

1:20. But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias
should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of
those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told
us, they found no fire, but thick water.

1:21. Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the priest,
Nehemias, commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be sprinkled
with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were laid upon
it.

1:22. And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out,
which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that all
wondered.

1:23. And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was
consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering.

1:24. And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God,
Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who alone
art the good king,

1:25. Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and
eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the
fathers, and didst sanctify them:

1:26. Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy
own portion, and sanctify it.

1:27. Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are slaves
to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and abhorred: that
the Gentiles may know that thou art our God.

1:28. Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with
pride.

1:29. Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken.

1:30. And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed.

1:31 .And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water
that was left to be poured out upon the great stones.

1:32. Which being done, there was kindled a flame from them: but it was
consumed by the light that shined from the altar.

1:33. And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of
Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid
the fire, there appeared water,