2 Maccabees 3
3
The story of Heliodorus
1When the holy city was living in harmony, and people observed the laws rigorously because of Onias the high priest, who was devoted to God and hated evil, 2the kings used to honor the place and glorify the temple by sending the best gifts. 3Seleucus the king of Asia even supplied all expenses for the sacrificial service from his own revenues. 4But a certain Simon from the tribe of Benjamin, who had been appointed administrator of the temple, had a difference of opinion with the high priest about the management of the city market. 5Since he wasn’t able to overcome Onias, he went to Thraseas’ son Apollonius, who was governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia at that time. 6Simon told him that the treasury in Jerusalem was filled with untold riches and that it was full of uncounted cash, which didn’t belong to the accounts for the sacrifices, but potentially fell under the king’s authority. 7Apollonius met with the king and told him about the funds.
The king chose his chief administrator Heliodorus and sent him with orders to confiscate the funds in question. 8Heliodorus immediately made the journey, supposedly to inspect the cities of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia but actually to put the king’s plan into effect. 9When he arrived in Jerusalem and was received in a friendly manner by the high priest of the city, he revealed the information that had been reported and stated plainly why he had come. Then he asked whether these things were true. 10The high priest informed him that these were the deposits of widows and orphans, 11and also some deposits of Hyrcanus the Tobiad, an exceedingly prominent man. He also said that there were only 22,800 pounds of silver and 11,400 pounds of gold, and that the ungodly Simon had given a false report. 12It was wholly unthinkable, he added, to commit such an injustice against those who trusted in the holiness of the place and in the dignity and sacredness of the temple that is honored throughout the whole world. 13But Heliodorus, because of the royal commands, was firm that in any case the king could take these funds. 14So he set a date and proceeded to inspect these funds. This caused great agony throughout the whole city. 15But the priests threw themselves down before the altar in their priestly robes and called to heaven to the one who had given the laws about such deposits, that he should keep the deposits safe. 16Anyone seeing the outward appearance of the high priest would have been heartbroken, because his expression and changed color revealed his inner anguish. 17Fear and trembling seized the man, making the grief lodged in his heart clear to observers. 18People burst from their houses in crowds to plead for help because the temple#3.18 Or place was about to be dishonored. 19With mourning clothes wrapped beneath their breasts, women filled the streets. The virgins, who usually remained indoors, ran together to the gates and some to the walls, while others peeped through their windows. 20But all raised up their hands to heaven and pleaded for help. 21To see the whole crowd on its knees and faces and the great suffering and dread of the high priest was a pitiful sight. 22So they called on the almighty Lord to protect the deposits for those who had entrusted them.
23But Heliodorus carried on with what had been decided. 24When he and his spearmen approached the treasury, however, the ruler of all spirits and all authority made an awesome display, so that all those daring to come with Heliodorus fainted, terrified and awestruck by God’s power. 25A horse appeared to them with a fearsome rider and decked out with a beautiful saddle. While running furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hooves. The rider appeared to be clothed in full body armor made of gold. 26Two young men also appeared before him—unmatched in bodily strength, of superb beauty, and with magnificent robes. They stood on either side of Heliodorus and beat him continuously with many blows. 27When he suddenly fell to the ground unconscious, his men grasped him and placed him on a stretcher. 28This was the same man who had just entered the treasury with a large group of men and a full bodyguard. Now they carried him away helpless, despite his weapons, and they publicly acknowledged God’s power. 29While he was being cut down and left speechless through the divine power and deprived of all hope of recovery, 30the people were praising the Lord for acting miraculously on behalf of his holy place. And the temple, which had been weighed down with fear and disturbance a short time earlier, was now filled with delight and joy because the almighty Lord had publicly appeared.
31Some of Heliodorus’ companions rushed to ask Onias to pray to the Most High to give life to the one who was about to draw his last breath. 32The high priest, fearful that perhaps the king might think that the Jews had done something evil to Heliodorus, offered a sacrifice for the man’s recovery.
33While the high priest was making the sacrifice for reconciliation, the same two#3.33 Gk lacks two young men, dressed in the same clothing, appeared again to Heliodorus. They stood by him and said, “You owe Onias the high priest your gratitude. Because of him the Lord has graciously given life to you. 34But you who suffered a beating from heaven must proclaim the great power of God to all.” Once they said these things, they disappeared.
35Heliodorus offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made many solemn promises to the savior for sparing his life. After thanking Onias, he took his military force back to the king. 36He testified to everyone about the works of the great God that he had seen with his own eyes. 37When the king asked Heliodorus who would be the right sort of person to send again to Jerusalem, he said: 38“If you have an enemy or someone plotting against your government, send him, and he will come back badly beaten if he should come back at all, because some divine power truly surrounds the temple.#3.38 Or place 39The one who lives in heaven watches over that place and will strike and destroy anyone coming with evil intent.” 40So this is how matters turned out concerning Heliodorus and the guarding of the treasury.
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2 Maccabees 3: CEB
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