1   Therefore when the holie ^note citie was inhabited in ^noteal peace, ^note the lawes also as yet were very wel kept, because of Onias ^note the high priest his pietie, & minde that hated euils, ^note

2   it came to passe that kinges also themselues, and princes esteemed the place worthie of high honour, and glorified the temple with verie great giftes:

3   so that Seleucus the king of Asia of his reuenewes allowed al the charges perteyning to the ministerie of the sacrifices.

4   But ^note Simon of the tribe of Beniamin, being appointed ouerseer of the temple, i contended, the prince of the priestes resisting him, to worke some wicked thing in the citie.

5   And ^note when he could not ouercome Onias, he came to Appollonius the sonne of Tharsaeas, who at that time was gouernour of Caelesyria, and Phaenicia:

6   and told him, that the treasurie at Ierusalem was ful of innumerable deale of money, and the common store to be infinite, which perteyne not to the account of the sacrifices: and that it is possible, al might fal into the kings powre.

7   And ^note when

Appollonius had made relation to the king, concerning the money that he was told of, he calling for Heliodorus, who was ouer his affayres, sent him with commission to transport the foresayde money.

8   And forthwith Heliodorus began to take his iourney, in shew in dede as if he would goe visite the cities through out Coelesyria and Phaenicia, but in very deede to accomplish the kings purpose.

9   But when he was come to Ierusalem, and was curteously receiued in the citie by the highpriest, he told of the the aduertisment geuen of the money: and opened for what cause he was come: and asked if these thinges were so in very deede.

10   Then the highpriest shewed that these were deposita, and the liuelihoods of widowes, and pupils:

11   but certaine of them to belong vnto Hircanus of Tobie a very noble man, among these thinges, which impious Simon had promoted, & the whole to be of siluer foure hundred talents, and of gold two hundred.

12   And that they should be deceiued which had committed it to the place, & the temple, that is honoured through out the whole world, to be a thing, for the reuerence, and holines therof altogether vnpossible.

13   But he by reason of those thinges, which he had in commission of the king, sayd in any wise that they must be caried to the king.

14   And on a day appointed, Heliodorus entered in to take order concerning these thinges. But there was noe smal trembling through out the whole citie.

15   And the priestes cast them selues before the altar with their priestes stoles, and inuocated him from heauen, which made the law of deposita, that he would kepe the thinges safe, from them that had deposed them.

16   But now he that saw the countenance of the high priest, was wounded in minde: for his face and colour being changed declared the inner sorow of the minde.

17   For there was a certaine pensiuenes powred about the man, and horrour of the bodie, wherby the sorow of his hart was made manifest to them that beheld him.

18   Others also came flocking together out of their houses: praying with publicke supplication, for that the place was to come into contempt.

19   And the wemen hauing their breast girded with heare clothes, came together through the stretes. Yea and the virgins ^note that were shut vp, came forth to Onias, and some to the walles, but some looked through the windowes:

20   and al stretching forth their handes vnto heauen, prayed.

21   For the expectation of the confuse multitude, and of the grand priest being in an agonie,

was miserable.

22   And these certes inuocated almightie God, that the thinges committed to them, might be performed with al integritie for them that had committed the same of trust.

23   But Heliodorus exercised that which he had decreed in the same place himself present with his gard about the treasurie.

24   But the spirit of almightie God made great euidence of his appearing, so that al which had presumed to obey him, falling by the vertue of God, were turned into dissolution and feare.

25   For ^note there appeared to them a certaine horse hauing a terrible rider, adorned with very rich harnesse: and he with feircenes stroke Heliodorus with his forefoote, and he that sate vpon him, seemed to haue armour of gold.

26   There appeared also two other yong men comely for strength, excellent of glorie, and beautiful in attyre: which stood about him, and on both sides whipped him, beating him with manie stripes without intermission.

27   And Heliodorus sodenly fel on the ground, & they tooke him being couered round about with much darkenes, and being set in a seate portatiue, they thrust him forth.

28   And he that with manie currers, and men of his garde entered into the foresayde treasurie, was caried no man geuing him succourse, the manifest powre of God being knowne.

29   And he in deede by the powre of God lay dumbe, and depriued of al hope, and health.

30   But they blessed our Lord, because he magnified his place: and the temple, that a little before was ful of feare and tumult, almightie God appearing, was filled with ioy and gladnes.

31   And then certaine of the freindes of Heliodorus forthwith desired Onias, that he would inuocate the highest to geue him life, who was at the very last gaspe.

32   And the high priest considering least perhaps the king might suspect some malice on the Iewes part downe aboute Heliodorns, offered for the health of the man an healthful host.

33   And when the highpriest by prayer obteyned, the selfe same yong men, clothed with the same garments, standing by Heliodorus, sayd: Geue thankes to Onias the priest: for him hath our Lord geuen thee life.

34   But thou being scourged of God, declare vnto al men the great workes and the powre of God. And these thinges being sayd, they appeared no more.

35   And Heliodorus hauing offered an host to God, and hauing promised great vowes to him, that granted him to liue, and geuing thankes to Onias, taking his armie againe returned to the king.

36   And he testified to al men those workes of the

great God, which he had seene before his owne eyes.

37   And when the king had asked Heliodorus; who was meete to be sent yet once more to Ierusalem, he sayd:

38   If thou haue anie enemie, or traytour to thy kingdome, send him thither, and thou shalt receiue him againe scourged, if yet he escape: because there is vndoubtedly in the place a certaine powre of God.

39   For he that hath his dwelling in the heauens, is the vifiter, and helper of that place, & them that come to doe euil, he striketh, and destroyeth.

40   Therefore concerning Heliodorus, and the keping of the treasurie so the matter standeth.

Previous section

Next section