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| [1]What time as the holy citie was inhabited in all peace and wealth, and when the lawes were yet very well kept: for so was it ordeyned thorowe the godlinesse of Onias the hye prieste, and other godly men that were enemies to wickednesse, |
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| [2]It came therto, that euen the kinges and princes them selues dyd the place great worship, and garnished the temple with great giftes: |
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| [3]Insomuch that Seleucus king of Asia of his owne rentes bare all the coastes belonging to the seruice of the offringes. |
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| [4]Then Simon, of the tribe of Beniamin, ruler of the temple, vpon a variaunce risen betweene him & the hygh priest for wickednesse that was done in the citie, |
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| [5]For that he could not ouercome Onias, he gat him to Apollonius the sonne of Thrasia, which then was chiefe Lorde in Celosyria and Phenices, |
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| [6]And tolde hym, that the treasurie in Hierusalem was full of innumerable money, & how that the common goodes whiche belongeth not vnto the offeringes, were exceeding great also: yea and howe it were possible that all these might come vnder the kinges power. |
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| [7]Now when Apollonius had shewed the king of the money, as it was tolde him: the king called for Heliodorus his treasurer, and sent him with a commaundement to bring him the same money. |
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| [8]Immediatly Heliodorus toke his iourney, but vnder a colour as though he woulde go thorowe Celosyria and Phenices to visite the cities, but his purpose was to fulfill the kinges pleasure. |
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| [9]So when he came to Hierusalem, and was louingly receaued of the hye priest into the citie, he tolde what was determined concerning the money, and shewed the cause of his comming: he asked also if it were so in deede. |
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| [10]Then the hye priest tolde hym, that there was such money layed vp for the vpholding of wydowes and fatherlesse children, |
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| [11]And how that a certayne of it belonged vnto Hyrcanus the sonne of Tobias a noble man, & that of all the money (and not as that wicked Simon had reported) there were foure hundreth talentes of siluer, and two hundred of golde: |
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| [12]Yea & that it were vnpossible for those mens meaning to be disceaued that had put assured confidence in the holinesse of the place, & in the maiestie & vndoubted safetie of the temple, whiche is had in worship thorowe the whole worlde, for the mayntenaunce and honour of the same. |
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| [13]Whervnto Heliodorus aunswered, that the king had commaunded hym in any wyse to bring hym the money. |
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| [14]So at the day appoynted, Heliodorus entred into the temple to order this matter: wherefore there was no small feare throughout the whole citie. |
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| [15]The priestes fell downe before the aulter in their vestmentes, and called vnto heauen vpon hym whiche had made a lawe concerning stuffe geuen to kepe that they shoulde be safely preserued for such as commited them vnto keping. |
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| [16]Then who so had loked the hye priest in the face, it woulde haue greeued his heart: for his countenaunce and the chaunging of his colour, declared the inwarde sorowe of his mynde. |
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| [17]The man was all in heauinesse, and his body in feare: whereby they that loked vpon him, might perceaue the griefe of his heart. |
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| [18]The other people also came out of their houses by heapes vnto the common prayer, because the place was like to come into confusion. |
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| [19]The women came together thorowe the streetes with heary clothes about their brestes: the virgins also that were kept in, ran to Onias, some of them ran to the gates, some vp vpon the walles, other some loked out at the windowes. |
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| [20]Yea they all helde vp their handes towarde heauen, and prayed: |
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| [21]A miserable thing was it to loke vpon the common people, and the hie priest beyng in such trouble. |
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| [22]But they besought almightie God that the goodes which were committed vnto them, might be kept whole for those that had deliuered them vnto their keping. |
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| [23]Neuerthelesse, the thing that Heliodorus was determined to do, that perfourmed he in the same place, he hym selfe personally beyng about the treasurie with his men of warre. |
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| [24]But the spirite of almightie God shewed him selfe openly, so that al they which presumed to obey Heliodorus, fel thorow the power of God into a great fearefulnesse and dread. |
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| [25]For there appeared vnto them an horse, with a terrible man sitting vpon him, deckte in goodly aray, and the horse smote at Heliodorus with his forefeete: Nowe he that sate vpon the horse, had harnesse of golde vpon him. |
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| [26]Moreouer, there appeared two fayre and beautifull young men of notable strength in goodly aray, whiche stoode by him, scourged him of both the sides, and gaue hym many strypes without ceassing. |
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| [27]With that fell Hiliodorus sodenly vnto the grounde, so they toke him vp beyng compassed about with great darkenesse, & bare him out vpon a beere. |
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| [28]Thus he that came with so many runners and men of warre into the sayde treasurie, was borne out, where as no man might helpe hym, beyng destitute of harnesse and weapons: and so the power of God was manifest & knowen. |
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| [29]He lay still dumbe also by the power of God, destitute of all hope and life. |
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| [30]And they praysed the Lord, that he had shewed his power vpon his place and temple, which a litle afore was full of feare and trouble, and that through the reuelation of the almightie Lord it was filled with ioy and gladnesse, |
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| [31]Then certayne of Heliodorus friendes prayed Onias that in al haste he would call vpon God, to graunt hym his lyfe, which was geuing vp the ghost. |
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| [32]So the hye priest fearing lest the king should suspect that the Iewes had done Heliodorus some euyll, he offered an offering for his health. |
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| [33]Nowe when the hye priest had obtaytayned his petition, the same young men in the same clothing appeared, & stoode beside Heliodorus saying, Thanke Onias the hye priest: for for his sake hath the Lorde graunted thee thy lyfe. |
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| [34]Therfore seyng that God hath scourged thee, geue hym prayse and thankes, and shewe euery man his might and power. And when they had spoken these wordes, they appeared no more. |
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| [35]So Heliodorus offered vnto God, made great vowes vnto hym whiche had graunted him his lyfe, thanked Onias, toke his hoast, and went againe to the king. |
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| [36]Then testified he vnto euery man, of the great workes of God that he had seene with his eyes. |
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| [37]And when the king asked Heliodorus who were meete to be sent yet once againe to Hierusalem, he sayde: |
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| [38]If thou hast any enemie or aduersarie vnto thy realme, sende him thyther, and thou shalt haue hym punished, if he escape with his lyfe: for in that place [no doubt] there is a special power and working of God. |
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| [39]For he that dwelleth in heauen, visiteth and defendeth that place, and all that come to do it harme he punisheth and plagueth them. |
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| [40]This is nowe the matter concerning Heliodorus, and the keping of the treasurie [at Hierusalem.] |
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