Liber II Maccabaeorum, 3

1. Cum sancta civitas habitaretur cum omni pace, et leges quam optime custodirentur propter Oniae pontificis pietatem et odium malitiae,

1. While the holy city was inhabited in unbroken peace and the laws were very well observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of wickedness,

2. fiebat ut et ipsi reges locum honorarent et templum maximis muneribus illustrarent,

2. it came about that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the finest presents,

3. ita ut Seleucus quoque Asiae rex de redditibus suis praestaret omnes sumptus ad ministeria sacrificiorum pertinentes.

3. so that even Seleucus, the king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses connected with the service of the sacrifices.

4. Simon autem de tribu Belgae praepositus templi constitutus dissentiebat a principe sacerdotum de dispensatione in civitate.

4. But a man named Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who had been made captain of the temple, had a disagreement with the high priest about the administration of the city market;

5. Et cum vincere Oniam non posset, venit ad Apollonium Tharseae filium, qui eo tempore erat dux Coelesyriae et Phoenicis,

5. and when he could not prevail over Onias he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

6. et nuntiavit pecuniis inenarrabilibus plenum esse aerarium Hierosolymis, ita ut multitudo vectigalium innumerabilis esset et ea non pertinere ad rationem sacrificiorum; esse autem possibile sub potestate regis haec cadere.

6. He reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the amount of the funds could not be reckoned, and that they did not belong to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible for them to fall under the control of the king.

7. Collocutus autem Apollonius cum rege, de indicatis sibi pecuniis aperuit; at ille vocans Heliodorum, qui erat super negotia, misit datis mandatis, ut praedictam pecuniam transportaret.

7. When Apollonius met the king, he told him of the money about which he had been informed. The king chose Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with commands to effect the removal of the aforesaid money.

8. Statimque Heliodorus iter est aggressus, specie quidem quasi per Coelesyriam et Phoenicen civitates esset peragraturus, re vera autem regis propositum perfecturus.

8. Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to make a tour of inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to carry out the king's purpose.

9. Sed cum venisset Hierosolymam et benigne a summo sacerdote civitatis esset exceptus, narravit de dato indicio, et cuius rei gratia adesset aperuit; interrogabat autem, si vere haec ita essent.

9. When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the high priest of the city, he told about the disclosure that had been made and stated why he had come, and he inquired whether this really was the situation.

10. Tunc summus sacerdos ostendit deposita esse viduarum et pupillorum;

10. The high priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to widows and orphans,

11. quaedam vero esse Hircani Thobiae, viri valde eminentis, non sicut detulerat obtrectans impius Simon; universa autem argenti talenta esse quadringenta et auri ducenta;

11. and also some money of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man of very prominent position, and that it totaled in all four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold. To such an extent the impious Simon had misrepresented the facts.

12. decipi vero eos, qui credidissent loci sanctitati et honorati per universum mundum templi venerationi inviolabili tutelae, omnino impossibile esse.

12. And he said that it was utterly impossible that wrong should be done to those people who had trusted in the holiness of the place and in the sanctity and inviolability of the temple which is honored throughout the whole world.

13. At ille, pro his, quae habebat, mandatis a rege, omnino dicebat in regium fiscum ea esse deferenda.

13. But Heliodorus, because of the king's commands which he had, said that this money must in any case be confiscated for the king's treasury.

14. Constituta autem die, intrabat de his visitationem ordinaturus. Non modica vero per universam civitatem erat trepidatio.

14. So he set a day and went in to direct the inspection of these funds. There was no little distress throughout the whole city.

15. Sacerdotes autem ante altare cum stolis sacerdotalibus iactaverunt se et invocabant in caelum eum, qui de deposito legem posuit, ut his, qui deposuerant, ea salva custodiret.

15. The priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their priestly garments and called toward heaven upon him who had given the law about deposits, that he should keep them safe for those who had deposited them.

16. Erat autem, ut qui videret summi sacerdotis vultum, mente vulneraretur; facies enim et color immutatus declarabat internum animi dolorem.

16. To see the appearance of the high priest was to be wounded at heart, for his face and the change in his color disclosed the anguish of his soul.

17. Circumfusus enim erat metus quidam viro, et horror corporis, unde manifestus aspicientibus dolor instans cordi efficiebatur.

17. For terror and bodily trembling had come over the man, which plainly showed to those who looked at him the pain lodged in his heart.

18. Alii autem de domibus gregatim prosiliebant ad publicam supplicationem, pro eo quod in contemptum locus esset venturus.

18. People also hurried out of their houses in crowds to make a general supplication because the holy place was about to be brought into contempt.

19. Accinctaeque mulieres ciliciis sub mammis per vias confluebant; sed et virgines, quae conclusae erant, aliae quidem procurrebant ad ianuas, aliae autem ad muros, quaedam vero per fenestras aspiciebant;

19. Women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. Some of the maidens who were kept indoors ran together to the gates, and some to the walls, while others peered out of the windows.

20. universae autem protendentes manus in caelum deprecabantur.

20. And holding up their hands to heaven, they all made entreaty.

21. Erat enim misereri commixtae multitudinis prostrationem et summi sacerdotis in magna agonia constituti exspectationem.

21. There was something pitiable in the prostration of the whole populace and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish.

22. Et hi quidem invocabant omnipotentem Dominum, ut credita salva his, qui crediderant, conservaret cum omni tutela.

22. While they were calling upon the Almighty Lord that he would keep what had been entrusted safe and secure for those who had entrusted it,

23. Heliodorus autem, quod fuerat decretum, perficiebat.

23. Heliodorus went on with what had been decided.

24. Eodem loco, ipso cum satellitibus circa aerarium praesente, spirituum et omnis potestatis Dominus magnam fecit ostensionem, ita ut omnes, qui ausi fuerant convenire, perterriti virtute Dei in dissolutionem et formidinem converterentur.

24. But when he arrived at the treasury with his bodyguard, then and there the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused so great a manifestation that all who had been so bold as to accompany him were astounded by the power of God, and became faint with terror.

25. Apparuit enim illis quidam equus terribilem habens sessorem et optimo operimento adornatus; isque cum impetu invectus Heliodoro priores calces impegit; qui autem supersedebat, videbatur arma habere aurea.

25. For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned horse, with a rider of frightening mien, and it rushed furiously at Heliodorus and struck at him with its front hoofs. Its rider was seen to have armor and weapons of gold.

26. Alii etiam apparuerunt duo iuvenes virtute decori, optimi gloria speciosique amictu, qui etiam circumsteterunt eum et ex utraque parte flagellabant sine intermissione multas inferentes ei plagas.

26. Two young men also appeared to him, remarkably strong, gloriously beautiful and splendidly dressed, who stood on each side of him and scourged him continuously, inflicting many blows on him.

27. Subito autem concidit in terram; eumque multa caligine circumfusum rapuerunt atque in sellam gestatoriam imposuerunt;

27. When he suddenly fell to the ground and deep darkness came over him, his men took him up and put him on a stretcher

28. et eum, qui cum multis cursoribus et satellitibus praedictum ingressus erat aerarium, portabant carentem auxilio ex armis constitutum, manifeste Dei virtutem cognoscentem.

28. and carried him away, this man who had just entered the aforesaid treasury with a great retinue and all his bodyguard but was now unable to help himself; and they recognized clearly the sovereign power of God.

29. Et ille quidem per divinam virtutem iacebat mutus atque omni spe et salute privatus;

29. While he lay prostrate, speechless because of the divine intervention and deprived of any hope of recovery,

30. hi autem Dominum benedicebant, qui magnificabat locum suum; et templum, quod paulo ante timore ac tumultu erat plenum, apparente omnipotente Domino, gaudio et laetitia impletum est.

30. they praised the Lord who had acted marvelously for his own place. And the temple, which a little while before was full of fear and disturbance, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the Almighty Lord had appeared.

31. Confestim vero ex amicis Heliodori quidam rogabant Oniam, ut invocaret Altissimum, ut vitam donaret ei, qui prorsus in supremo spiritu erat constitutus.

31. Quickly some of Heliodorus' friends asked Onias to call upon the Most High and to grant life to one who was lying quite at his last breath.

32. Suspectus autem factus summus sacerdos, ne forte rex opinaretur malitiam aliquam ex Iudaeis circa Heliodorum consummatam, obtulit hostiam pro salute viri.

32. And the high priest, fearing that the king might get the notion that some foul play had been perpetrated by the Jews with regard to Heliodorus, offered sacrifice for the man's recovery.

33. Cumque summus sacerdos litationem perficeret, iidem iuvenes rursus apparuerunt Heliodoro eisdem vestibus amicti et astantes dixerunt: “Oniae summo sacerdoti multas gratias age, nam propter eum Dominus tibi vitam donavit;

33. While the high priest was making the offering of atonement, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus dressed in the same clothing, and they stood and said, "Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life.

34. tu autem a caelo flagellatus nuntia omnibus magnam Dei potestatem”. Et his dictis, non comparuerunt.

34. And see that you, who have been scourged by heaven, report to all men the majestic power of God." Having said this they vanished.

35. Heliodorus autem, hostia Domino oblata et votis magnis promissis ei, qui vivere concessit, et Oniam acceptum habens cum exercitu repedavit ad regem;

35. Then Heliodorus offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great vows to the Savior of his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, he marched off with his forces to the king.

36. testabatur autem omnibus ea, quae sub oculis suis viderat, opera maximi Dei.

36. And he bore testimony to all men of the deeds of the supreme God, which he had seen with his own eyes.

37. Cum autem rex interrogasset Heliodorum, quis esset aptus adhuc semel Hierosolymam mitti, ait:

37. When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of person would be suitable to send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied,

38. “Si quem habes hostem aut rerum insidiatorem, mitte eum illuc et flagellatum eum recipies, si tamen evaserit, eo quod in loco sit vere Dei quaedam virtus;

38. "If you have any enemy or plotter against your government, send him there, for you will get him back thoroughly scourged, if he escapes at all, for there certainly is about the place some power of God.

39. nam ipse, qui habet in caelis habitationem, visitator et adiutor est loci illius et venientes ad malefaciendum percutit ac perdit”.

39. For he who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that place himself and brings it aid, and he strikes and destroys those who come to do it injury."

40. Igitur de Heliodoro et aerarii custodia ita res processerunt.

40. This was the outcome of the episode of Heliodorus and the protection of the treasury.