22. After this was done and some time had passed, the sun appeared from behind the clouds, and suddenly everything on the altar burst into flames. Everyone looked on in amazement.
23. Then, while the fire was consuming the sacrifice, Jonathan the High Priest led the people in prayer, and Nehemiah and all the people responded.
24. “Nehemiah's prayer went something like this: ‘Lord God, Creator of all things, you are awesome and strong, yet merciful and just. You alone are king. No one but you is kind;
25. no one but you is gracious and just. You are almighty and eternal, for ever ready to rescue Israel from trouble. You chose our ancestors to be your own special people.
26. Accept this sacrifice which we offer on behalf of all Israel; protect your chosen people and make us holy.
27. Free those who are slaves in foreign lands and gather together our scattered people. Have mercy on our people, who are ill-treated and despised, so that all other nations will know that you are our God.
28. Punish the brutal and arrogant people who have oppressed us,
29. and then establish your people in your holy land, as Moses said you would.’
30. “Then the priests sang hymns.
31. After the sacrifices had been consumed, Nehemiah gave orders for the rest of the liquid to be poured over some large stones.
32. Immediately a fire blazed up, but it was extinguished by a flame from the fire on the altar.
33. “News of what had happened spread everywhere. The Persian emperor heard that a liquid had been found in the place where the priests had hidden the altar fire, just before they were taken into exile. He also heard that Nehemiah and his friends had used this liquid to burn the sacrifice on the altar.
34. When the emperor investigated the matter and found out that this was true, he had the area fenced off and made into a shrine.