The Argument between Onias and Simon

1When Onias3.1 onias: This is Onias the Third, son of Simon the Second (see 4.4–6; Sir 50.1–21). was High Priest in Jerusalem, the holy city enjoyed peace and prosperity, and its laws were strictly obeyed, because he was devout and hated evil. 2The kings of Syria and Egypt honoured the Temple and presented it with expensive gifts, 3and King Seleucus,3.3 seleucus: This is Seleucus the Fourth, known as Philopator, son of Antiochus the Third, 187–175 bc. ruler of all Asia, even used to pay the costs of the Temple sacrifices from the revenues he collected.

4But a man by the name of Simon, of the tribe of Bilgah,3.4 Some ancient translations Bilgah (see Neh 12.5, 18); Greek Benjamin. the chief administrative official of the Temple, lost an argument he had with Onias over the regulations governing the city market. 5At this time Apollonius son of Thraseus was the governor of Greater Syria. Simon went to him 6and said that there was so much money in the Temple treasury that it could not be counted, and since the money was not needed for sacrifices, it might as well be placed under the king's control.

Heliodorus is Sent to Jerusalem

7When Apollonius met the king, he told him about the money, and the king ordered Heliodorus, his chief minister, to get it for him. 8Heliodorus set out at once on his mission, but he claimed that he was only making a tour of inspection of the cities of Greater Syria. 9After he had arrived in Jerusalem and had been warmly received by the High Priest, he explained the real reason for his visit and asked if what he had been told was true. 10-11The High Priest then stated that Simon, that devil of a man, had not been telling the truth. There was indeed some money in the Temple treasury, but part of it was set aside for widows and orphans and part of it belonged to Hyrcanus son of Tobias, a very important man. He also pointed out that the total amount was only thirteen tonnes of silver and 6.5 tonnes of gold. 12He added that it was absolutely impossible that anyone should be permitted to take the money of those people who had put their trust in the sanctity and safety of this world-famous Temple.

Heliodorus Plans to Enter the Temple

13But Heliodorus insisted that the money should be taken for the royal treasury, as the king had ordered. 14So he fixed a day and went into the Temple to supervise the counting of the money. This caused an uproar throughout the entire city. 15Priests, wearing the priestly robes, threw themselves face downwards before the altar and begged God to keep the money safe, since he had given the laws designed to protect the money that people deposited in the Temple. 16It was heartbreaking to see the High Priest. His face turned pale, revealing the agony of his soul, 17and his body was trembling with fear, reflecting the pain in his heart. 18People ran from their houses to join together in prayer that the Temple might not be defiled. 19Women, wearing nothing but skirts of sackcloth, crowded the streets. Young girls whose parents had never allowed them to be seen in public ran to the gates or to the walls of the city, or just stared out of their windows. 20But wherever they went, they lifted their hands to God in prayer. 21What a pitiful sight it was to see the High Priest in such great agony and frustration and to see everyone in the city confused and lying face downwards on the ground.

The Lord Protects His Temple

22While everyone was begging the Lord Almighty to protect the money that had been entrusted to his care, 23Heliodorus went on with his plan. 24But at the very moment that he and his bodyguard arrived at the treasury, the Lord of all supernatural powers caused such a vision to appear that everyone who had dared to enter with Heliodorus was panic-stricken and weak with fear at this display of the Lord's power. 25In the vision they saw a horse and a rider. The horse had a richly decorated bridle, and its rider, dressed in gold armour, was frightening. Suddenly the horse rushed at Heliodorus, then reared up and struck at him with its hoofs. 26Heliodorus also saw two unusually strong and handsome young men, wearing very fine clothes. They stood on either side of him and beat him unmercifully. 27He immediately fell to the ground unconscious, and his men put him on a stretcher 28and carried him out. Only a moment earlier this man had entered the treasury with a large group of men, including all his bodyguard, but now he was being carried away helpless. So they all3.28 they all; some manuscripts have he. openly acknowledged the mighty power of God.

Onias Prays for Heliodorus' Recovery

29Heliodorus lay there unable to speak and without hope of recovery from this demonstration of God's power. 30But the Jews praised Almighty God because he had miraculously protected his Temple and had brought great happiness where only minutes before there had been fear and confusion. 31Some of Heliodorus' friends quickly asked Onias the High Priest to pray that the Most High would spare the life of this man who was at the point of death. 32So the High Priest offered a sacrifice in the hope that God would save Heliodorus, for he did not want the king to think that the Jews had done this to the man he had sent. 33While Onias was offering the sacrifice, the two young men, wearing the same clothes as before, again appeared to Heliodorus and said, “Be grateful to the High Priest; the Lord has spared your life because of him. 34Remember that it was the Lord of heaven who punished you. Now go and tell everyone of his great power.” When they had said this, they disappeared.

Heliodorus Praises God

35So Heliodorus offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made many promises, because the Lord had spared his life. Then he said goodbye to Onias and returned with his army to the king. 36There he told everyone what the Lord, the most powerful of all gods, had done.

37When the king asked Heliodorus who would be the best man to send on the next mission to Jerusalem, Heliodorus replied, 38“If you have an enemy or know of someone plotting against your government, send him. He will come back badly beaten, if he comes back at all, for some strange power from God is at work there. 39The God of Heaven watches over the Temple; he strikes down and destroys anyone who comes to harm it.” 40That is the story of how the Temple treasury was protected from Heliodorus.