1While the holy city was being inhabited in complete peace, and the laws were being kept most excellently on account of the piety and hatred of wickedness of Onias the high priest,
2it came to pass that even the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the most splendid gifts.
3so that even Seleucus, the king of Asia, supplied from his own revenues all the expenses pertaining to the services of the sacrifices.
4But a certain Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who had been appointed administrator of the temple, had a disagreement with the high priest concerning the market administration in the city.
5And being unable to overcome Onias, he went to Apollonius son of Thraseas, who was at that time governor of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.
6And he reported that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the amount of the funds was innumerable, and that they did not pertain to the account for the sacrifices, but that it was possible for these to fall under the king’s authority.
7So Apollonius met with the king and informed him about the money that had been disclosed. The king, in turn, selected Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with orders to carry out the removal of the aforementioned money.
8Immediately Heliodorus set out on his journey, ostensibly to inspect the cities throughout Coele-Syria and Phoenicia, but in reality to accomplish the king’s purpose.
9When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been kindly received by the high priest of the city, he communicated his purpose concerning the information that had been given and made clear the reason he was present. And he inquired if these things were in fact so.
10The high priest pointed out that the deposits belonged to widows and orphans,
11and some to Hyrcanus son of Tobias, a man in a very high position—not as the impious Simon had alleged—and that the total was four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.
12and that to wrong those who had trusted in the holiness of the place, and in the majesty and inviolability of the temple honored throughout the whole world, was utterly impossible.
13But Heliodorus, on account of the royal commands he had, said that these must by all means be confiscated for the royal treasury.
14So, having set a day, he went in to take an inventory of these things. And there was great distress throughout the whole city.
15And the priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their priestly vestments, called upon Heaven, upon him who had made the law concerning deposits, to keep these things safe for those who had deposited them.
16To see the appearance of the high priest was to be wounded in spirit, for his countenance and the change in his color revealed the anguish of his soul.
17For a certain fear and bodily shuddering had enveloped the man, through which the pain present in his heart became clear to those who looked on.
18And people rushed out from their houses in crowds to make public supplication, because the holy place was about to come into contempt.
19The women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, filled the streets. And the secluded virgins, some ran together to the gateways, others to the walls, and some peered through the windows.
20And all, stretching out their hands toward heaven, made their supplication.
21It was a pitiable sight—the prostration of the mixed crowd and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish.
22So they called upon the almighty Lord to keep the things that had been entrusted safe and with all security for those who had entrusted them.
23But Heliodorus proceeded to carry out what had been decided.
24But just as he was there at the treasury with his bodyguards, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority made a great manifestation, so that all who had dared to accompany him, being struck with terror at the power of God, were overcome with faintness and fear.
25For a horse appeared to them with a fearsome rider, adorned with a most beautiful covering; charging furiously, it struck at Heliodorus with its front hooves. And the one seated upon it appeared to have golden armor.
26And two other young men appeared to him, excelling in strength, most beautiful in appearance, and splendid in their apparel. Standing on either side of him, they scourged him unceasingly, inflicting many blows upon him.
27After he suddenly fell to the ground and was enveloped in deep darkness, they snatched him up and put him into a litter.
28The man who had just entered the aforementioned treasury with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard, they carried away, now completely helpless, having clearly recognized the sovereignty of God.
29And so he, because of the divine intervention, lay speechless and deprived of all hope and salvation.
30But they were blessing the Lord, who had marvelously glorified his own place. And the temple, which a little while before was full of fear and disturbance, was now filled with joy and gladness, since the almighty Lord had appeared.
31But some of Heliodorus’s companions quickly urged Onias to call upon the Most High and to grant life to the one who lay at his very last breath.
32The high priest, however, became suspicious that the king might get the impression that some foul play concerning Heliodorus had been carried out by the Jews, so he offered a sacrifice for the man’s recovery.
33And as the high priest was making the atonement, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus, dressed in the same clothing. Standing there, they said, “Give great thanks to Onias the high priest, for on his account the Lord has graciously granted you your life.
34But you, having been scourged from heaven, proclaim to everyone the magnificent power of God.” And having said these things, they vanished.
35Heliodorus then, having offered a sacrifice to God and made very great vows to the one who had preserved his life, and having bid farewell to Onias, returned to the king.
36And he testified to everyone about the works of the most great God, which he had seen with his own eyes.
37When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to be sent to Jerusalem one more time, he said,
38“If you have an enemy or a conspirator against the state, send him there, and you will receive him back scourged—if he even survives—because there is truly some power of God about that place.
39For he who has his dwelling in heaven is himself the overseer and helper of that place, and he strikes and destroys those who come to do it harm.”
40And so the events concerning Heliodorus and the protection of the treasury came to this conclusion.
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