Heliodorus attempts to seize the temple treasures
1 While the Holy City enjoyed complete peace and the laws were observed as
perfectly as possible through the piety of Onias the High Priest and his hatred
for all wickedness,
2 it came about that kings honored the Holy Place and made the High Priest
richer by their magnificent gifts.
3 Even Seleucus, king of Asia, paid from his own account for the expenses of the
sacrificial services.
4 But a certain Simon, a priest of the tribe of Bilgah and the Temple
administrator, came into conflict with the High Priest regarding the inspection
of the city markets.
5 But he could not prevail over Onias. So he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, the
governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia,
6 and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold wealth,
that there was a great amount of money which had nothing to do with the expenses
required by the sacrifices, and that all this could easily be brought under the
control of the king.
7 Apollonius met with the king and told him about the wealth that had been
disclosed to him. The king then sent Heliodorus, who was in charge of his
affairs, with a letter that authorized him to transfer the treasures.
8 Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, pretending that he was going to
visit Coele-Syria and Phoe nicia, but with the intention of carrying out the
king��s order.
9 On his arrival in Jerusalem, he was hospitably received by the city and the
High Priest to whom he related the report that had been made. He revealed the
reason for his coming and asked the High Priest if the report was really true.
10 The High Priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to widows
and orphans.
11 Some belonged to Hyrcanus, son of To bias, a person of very prominent
position, who had also been affected by these slanders. All in all, the treasury
had four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.
12 Finally, Onias pointed out that it was utterly impossible to cheat those who
had put their confidence in this Holy Place and in the inviolable majesty of
that Temple venerated throughout the world.
13 But, following the orders of the king, Heliodorus insisted that all those
treasures should be turned over to the king.
14 So, on the day set for Helio dorus to draw up the inventory, there was great
disturbance in the city.
15 The priests in their sacred vestments stood before the altar and called upon
Heaven: he who had given the law governing deposits should now preserve them for
those who had deposited them.
16 None could look at the face of the High Priest without being deeply touched,
for his appearance and his paleness revealed the anguish of his soul.
17 A kind of fear overwhelmed him that made him tremble from head to foot,
showing to those who saw him the sorrow of his heart.
18 Peo ple rushed out of their houses in great con fusion to pray together
because the Holy Place was about to be profaned.
19 The women, girded with sack cloth below their breasts, thronged into the
streets. The younger girls who were not yet allowed to go out into the streets
ran to the doorways, and some climbed the walls and others looked out from the
windows.
20 All raised their hands to heaven and joined in prayer.
21 It was touching to see such a crowd prostrate in disarray on the ground and
the High Priest in great anguish.
22 While they were praying to the All-powerful Lord to protect the de po sits of
the Temple and keep them safe for those who entrusted them to the High Priest,
23 Heliodo rus began to carry out what had been decided upon.
24 He had already come near the Treasury with his bodyguard, when the Lord of
the spirits and of every power caused so great a manifestation that all who had
dared accompany Heliodorus were astonished be fore the power of God, and they
lost their strength and courage.
25 There ap peared to them a horse with magnificent gear and on it was a
fearsome rider. It rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him with its
forefeet. The rider appeared to have armor of gold.
26 And two young men, strong and very beautiful and magnificently clothed, also
ap peared. They stood on each side of Heliodorus, and flogged him continuously,
inflicting stroke after stroke.
27 Heliodorus fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness; then his men took
him up and put him on a stretcher.
28 So he was carried away, powerless even to help himself, he who but a moment
before had proudly entered the treasury with a great retinue and all his
bodyguard. Everyone clearly recognized the power of God.
29 Because of the divine intervention, Heliodorus be came mute and lost all hope
of saving his life.
30 Meanwhile the Jews blessed the Lord who had glorified his Holy Place. The
Temple, which a little while before had been filled with terror and fear, now
overflowed with joy and gladness because of the extraordinary manifestation of
God.
31 Then some of Heliodorus�� companions begged Onias to call upon the Most High
to grant the grace of life to him who was at the point of death.
32 The High Priest, on his part, feared that the king might suspect the Jews of
some foul play against Helio dorus, so he offered a sacrifice for the man��s
recovery.
33 While the High Priest was offering the sacrifice of atonement, the same young
men, clothed in the same way, again appeared to Helio dorus, and standing before
him, said, ��Thank Onias the High Priest, for through him the Lord grants you the
grace of life.
34 And as for you, who have been scourged by heaven��s com mand, make known to
all how great is the power of God.�� Having said this, they vanished.
35 Heliodorus then offered a sacrifice to the Lord and prayed at great length to
him who had spared his life. He took leave of Onias and went back with his
guards to the king.
36 There he began to bear witness to the works of the Most High God, which he
had seen with his own eyes.
37 The king asked Heliodorus who could be sent again to Jerusalem to carry out
what he failed to do. Helio dorus answered him,
38 ��If you have some enemy whom you wish to eliminate, send him there and you
will see him return well flogged; that is, if he ever returns at all, for
surely, divine power is in that place.
39 He himself who dwells in heaven watches over the place and defends it,
striking to death those who come to profane it.��
40 This was what happened to Heliodorus and how the Treasury was saved.