101. When this sign became known, the king
of Persia ordered a temple to be built on that spot where the fire had
been hidden and the water afterwards found, to which many gifts were
made. They who were with holy Nehemiah called it
Naphthar, 2 Macc. i. 36.—which means
cleansing—by many it is called Nephi. It is to be found
also in the history of the prophet Jeremiah, 2 Macc. ii. 1 ff.
that he bade those who should come after him to take of the fire.
That is the fire which fell on Moses’ sacrifice and consumed it,
as it is written: “There came a fire out from the Lord and
consumed upon the altar all the whole burnt-offering.” Lev. ix. 24. The sacrifice must be hallowed with
this fire only. Therefore, also, fire went out from the Lord upon
the sons of Aaron who wished to offer strange fire, and consumed them,
so that their dead bodies were cast forth without the camp. Lev. x. 2.