2nd Maccabees 3

CHAPTER 3

¹Therefore when the holy city was inhabited in all peace, laws also yet were best kept, for the faithfulness of Onias, bishop, [or for ordinance and piety of Onias, priest] , and for souls hating evil things,

²it was made, that both they kings and princes led the place worthy highest honour, and lighted the temple with greatest gifts;

³so that Seleucus, king of Asia, gave of his rents all expenses pertain-ing to the service of sacrifices.

⁴Forsooth Simon, of the lineage of Benjamin, that was ordained sovereign [or provost] of the temple, when the prince of priests against-stood him, strove for to cast some wicked thing in the city.

⁵But when he might not overcome Onias, he came to Apollonius, son of Tarsus, that in that time was duke of Coelesyria and Phoenicia;

⁶and told to him, that the treasury in Jerusalem was full with riches [or with monies] unnumberable; and that common riches be great, which pertain not to the reason of sacrifices; forsooth that it was possible, that all things fall under power of the king.

⁷And when Apollonius had told to the king of riches [or monies] that were borne in, he sent Heliodorus called, that was on his needs, with commandments for to bear out the foresaid money.

⁸And anon Heliodorus took the way, soothly by form as if he were to passing by Coelesyria and Phoenicia cities, but in true thing to performing the king’s purpose.

⁹But when he came to Jerusalem, and was received benignly of the highest priest in the city, he told of doom given of the riches [or of monies] , and opened for cause of what thing he came; forsooth he asked, if verily these things were so.

¹⁰Then the highest priest showed, that these things were kept to the lifelodes [or the livelodes] of widows, and of fatherless either motherless children;

¹¹that some soothly were of Hyrcanus son of Tobias, a man full noble in these things, that unpious Simon had told; forsooth that all the talents of silver were four hundred, and of gold two hundred;

¹²for that it was impossible on all manner, that they be deceived, that betook their things to be kept to the place and temple, that by all the world was honoured for his worship-ping, and holiness.

¹³And he said, for these things that he had in commandments of the king, That in all kind those should be borne to the king.

¹⁴Forsooth in the day ordained Heliodorus entered, to ordain of these things; forsooth there was not a little trembling through all the city.

¹⁵Forsooth priests casted themselves before the altar, with priests’ stoles, and called to help from heaven him that gave law of things put in keeping, that he should keep those things safe to them that had put those [or had put them] in keeping.

¹⁶Now forsooth he that saw the cheer of the highest priest, was wounded in soul; for the face and colour was changed, and declared the inward sorrow of soul.

¹⁷For some sorrowfulness was shed about to the man, and hideousness of body, by which the sorrow of heart was made known to men beholding.

¹⁸Also other men gathered together flock-meal, and came out of houses, beseeching with open beseeching, for that that the place was to coming into despite.

¹⁹And women were gird on the breast with hair-shirts, and flowed together by streets; but and virgins, that were closed altogether, ran to Onias; others forsooth to the walls, some soothly beheld by windows.

²⁰Forsooth all held forth hands into heaven, and besought;

²¹for there was a wretched abiding of multitude mingled, and of the highest priest ordained in strife, or anguish .

²²And these soothly called Almighty God to help, that things taken in keeping should be kept in all holiness, to them that had put those [or had put them] in keeping.

²³Forsooth Heliodorus performed that thing, that he had deemed,

²⁴and he was present with his knights in the same place about the treasury. But the Spirit of Almighty God made great evidence of his showing, so that all that were hardy for to obey to him, fell down by virtue of God, and were converted into feebleness, [or unstrength] , and inward dread.

²⁵For an horse appeared to them, and had a dreadful sitter, adorned with best coverings; and he with fierceness rushed the former feet or forefeet to Heliodorus; forsooth he that sat on him, seemed [or was seen] for to have golden armours.

²⁶Also two other young men appeared, fair in virtue, best in glory, and fair in clothing, that stood about him, and on each side scourged him without ceasing, and beat with many wounds.

²⁷Soothly forsooth Heliodorus fell down to the earth, and they ravished him shed about with much darkness, and casted out him [or casted him out] , put in a pack saddle, either horse’s litter .

²⁸And he that entered with many runners and knights into the foresaid treasury, was borne, when no man helped him, for the open virtue of God was known;

²⁹and forsooth by God’s virtue he lay dumb, and deprived of all hope and health.

³⁰Forsooth these Jews blessed the Lord, for he magnified his place; and the temple, that a little before was full of dread and noise, is [full] -filled with joy and gladness, for the Lord Almighty appeared.

³¹Then forsooth some of Heliodorus’ friends prayed anon Onias, for to call to help the Highest, and for to give life to him, that was set in the last spirit.

³²Soothly the highest priest beheld, lest peradventure the king would suppose any malice fully done of Jews about Heliodorus, and offered for health of the man a wholeful or an healthful sacrifice.

³³And when the highest priest prayed, the same younglings, clothed in the same clothes, stood nigh [to] Heliodorus, and said, Do thou thankings to Onias, the priest; for why for him the Lord hath given life to thee;

³⁴thou soothly, that art scourged of God, tell to all men the great doings and power of God. And when these things were said, they appeared not.

³⁵Heliodorus soothly, when a sacrifice was offered to God, and great avows were promised to him, that granted him for to live, and did thankings or thanks to Onias; and when his host was received, he went again to the king.

³⁶Soothly he witnessed to all men the works of great God, which he saw under his eyes.

³⁷Forsooth when the king asked Heliodorus, who was able to be sent yet once to Jerusalem, he said,

³⁸If thou hast any enemy, either traitor of thy realm, send thither, and thou shalt receive him beaten, if nevertheless he shall escape; for some virtue of God is verily in the place.

³⁹For why he that hath dwelling in heavens, is visitor and helper of that place; and he smiteth and loseth them, that come to mis-do.

⁴⁰Therefore of Heliodorus, and keeping of the treasury, thus the thing hath itself.