Open English Translation 2 MAC Chapter 3

3 When the holy city was inhabited with unbroken peace and the laws were kept very well because of the godliness of Honyo (Onias) the high priest and his hatred of wickedness, 2 it happened that even the kings themselves honoured the place and glorified the temple with the noblest presents, 3 so that even King Seleukos (Seleucus) of Asia bore all the costs belonging to the services of the sacrifices out of his own revenues. 4 But a man named Shim’on (Simon) of the Benyamin tribe, having been made guardian of the temple, disagreed with the high priest about the ruling of the market in the city. 5 When he couldn’t overcome Honyo, he went to Apolonios of Tarsos,[fn] who at that time was governor of Coele-Syria and Foinikai. 6 He brought him word how that the treasury in Yerushalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable, and that they didn’t pertain to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power. 7 When Apolonios met the king, he informed him of the money about which he’d been told. So the king appointed Heliodoros, who was his chancellor, and sent him with a command to accomplish the removal of the reported money. 8 So Heliodoros set out on his journey at once, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coele-Syria and Foinikai, but in fact to execute the king’s purpose.

9 When he’d come to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and had been courteously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information which had been given, and declared why he’d come; and he enquired if in truth those things were so. 10 The high priest explained to him that there were in the treasury deposits of widows and orphans, 11 and moreover some money belonging to Hurkanos the son of Toviyah (Tobias), a man in very high place, not as that impious Shim’on falsely alleged; and that in all there were four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold, 12 and that it was altogether impossible that wrong should be done to those who’d put trust in the holiness of the place, and in the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honoured over all the world. 13 But Heliodoros, because of the king’s command given him, said that in any case this money must be confiscated for the king’s treasury.

14 So having appointed a day, he entered in to direct the enquiry about those matters; and there was no small distress throughout the whole city. 15 The priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their priestly clothes, and called towards heaven on him who gave the law about deposits, that he should preserve these treasures safe for those who’d deposited them. 16 Anyone who saw the appearance of the high priest was wounded in mind; for his face and the change of his colour betrayed the distress of his soul. 17 Because a terror and a shuddering of the body had come over the man, by which the pain that was in his heart was plainly shown to those who looked at him. 18 Those who were in the houses rushed out in crowds to make a universal supplication, because the place was about to come into dishonour. 19 The women, girded with coarse, abrasive sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. The virgins who were kept indoors ran together, some to the gates, others to the walls, and some looked out through the windows. 20 All, stretching out their hands towards heaven, made their solemn supplication. 21 Then it was pitiful to see the multitude prostrating themselves all mixed together, and the anxiety of the high priest in his great distress.

22 While therefore they called on the Almighty master to keep the things entrusted to them safe and secure[fn] for those who’d entrusted them, 23 Heliodoros went on to execute that which had been decreed. 24 But when he was already present there with his guards near the treasury, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused a great manifestation, so that all who’d presumed to come with him, stricken with dismay at God’s power, fainted in terror. 25 Because they saw a horse with a frightening rider, adorned with beautiful trappings, and he rushed fiercely and struck at Heliodoros with his forefeet. It seemed like he who sat on the horse had complete armour of gold. 26 Two others also appeared to him, young men notable in their strength, and beautiful in their glory, and splendid in their clothing, who stood by him on either side, and scourged him unceasingly, inflicting on him many sore stripes. 27 When he’d fallen suddenly to the ground, and great darkness had come over him, his guards picked him up and put him on a stretcher, 28 and carried him—this man who’d just now entered with a great retinue and all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, himself now brought to utter helplessness, manifestly made to recognise the sovereignty of God. 29 So, while he, through the working of God, speechless and bereft of all hope and deliverance, lay prostrate, 30 they blessed the master who acted marvellously for his own place. The temple, which a little before was full of terror and alarm, was filled with joy and gladness after the Almighty master appeared.

31 But quickly some of Heliodoros’s familiar friends implored Honyo (Onias) to call on the Most High to grant life to him who lay quite at the last gasp. 32 The high priest, secretly afraid that the king might think that some treachery towards Heliodoros had been perpetrated by the Yehudim (Jews), brought a sacrifice for the recovery of the man. 33 But as the high priest was making the atoning sacrifice, the same young men appeared again to Heliodoros, arrayed in the same clothes. They stood and said, “Give Honyo the high priest great thanks, for his sake the master has granted you life. 34 See that you, since you’ve been scourged from heaven, declare to all men the sovereign majesty of God.” When they’d spoken those words, they vanished out of sight. 35 So Heliodoros, having offered a sacrifice to the master and vowed great[fn] vows to him who’d saved his life, and having bidden Honyo farewell, returned with his army to the king. 36 He testified to all men the works of the greatest God, which he’d seen with his eyes.

37 When the king asked Heliodoros what sort of man was fit to be sent yet once again to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), he said, 38 “If you have any enemy or conspirator against the state, send him there, and you’ll receive him back well scourged, if he even escapes with his life; because truly there’s some power of God in that place. 39 Because he who has his residence in heaven himself has his eyes on that place and helps it. Those who come to hurt it, he strikes and destroys.”

40 That was the history of Heliodoros and the keeping of the treasury.