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1 Therefore when the holy city was inhabited with
all peace, and the laws as yet were very well kept, because of the godliness
of Onias the high priest, and the hatred his soul
had of evil,
2 It came to pass that even the kings
themselves, and the princes esteemed the place worthy of the highest honour, and glorified the temple with very great gifts:
3 So that Seleucus
king of Asia allowed out of his revenues all the charges be- longing to the
ministry of the sacrifices.
4 But one Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, who
was appointed overseer of the temple, strove in opposition to the high
priest, to bring about some unjust thing in the city.
5 And when he could not overcome Onias he went to Apollonius the son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria and Phenicia:
6 And told him, that the treasury in
Jerusalem was full of immense sums of money, and the common store was
infinite, which did not belong to the account of the sacrifices: and that it
was possible to bring all into the king's hands.
7 Now when Apollonius had given the king
notice concerning the money that he was told of, he called for Heliodorus, who had the charge over his affairs, and sent
him with commission to bring him the foresaid money.
8 So Heliodorus
forthwith began his journey, under a colour of
visiting the cities of Celesyria and Phenicia, but in- deed to fulfil
the king's purpose.
9 And when he was come to Jerusalem, and
had been courteously received in the city by the high priest, he told him
what information had been given concerning the money: and declared the cause
for which he was come: and asked if these things were so indeed.
10 Then the high priest told him that these
were sums deposited, and provisions for the subsistence of the widows and the
fatherless.
11 And that some part of that which wicked
Simon had given intelligence of, belonged to Hircanus
son of Tobias, a man of great dignity: and that the whole was four hundred
talents of silver, and two hundred of gold:
12 But that to deceive them who had trusted
to the place and temple which is honoured
throughout the whole world, for the reverence and holiness of it, was a thing
which could not by any means be done.
13 But he, by reason of the orders he had
received from the king, said that by :all means the money must be carried to
the king.
14 So on the day he had appointed, Heliodorus entered in to order this mat- tar. But there
was no small terror throughout the whole city.
15 And the priests prostrated them- selves
before the altar in their priests' vestments, and called upon him from
heaven, who made the law concerning things given to be kept, that he would
preserve them safe, for them that had deposited them.
16 Now whosoever saw the countenance of the
high priest, was wounded in heart: for his face, and the changing of his colour declared the inward sorrow of his mind.
17 For the man was so compassed with
sadness and horror of the body, that it was manifest to them that beheld him,
what sorrow he had in his heart.
18 Others also came hocking together out of their
houses, praying and making public supplication, because the place was like to
come into contempt.
19 And the women, girded with haircloth about
their breasts, came together in the streets. And the virgins also that were
shut up, came forth, some to Onias,
and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows.
20 And all holding up their hands towards
heaven, made supplication.
21 For the expectation of the mixed multitude,
and of the high priest who was in an agony, would have moved any one to pity.
22 And these indeed called upon al- mighty
God, to preserve the things that had been committed to them, safe and sure
for those that had committed them.
23 But Heliodorus
executed that which he had resolved on, himself being present in the same
place with his guard about the treasury.
24 But the spirit of the almighty God gave a
great evidence of his presence, so that all that had presumed to obey him,
falling down by the power of God, were struck with fainting and dread.
25 For there appeared to them a horse with a
terrible rider upon him, adorned with a very rich covering: and he ran
fiercely and struck Heliodorus with his fore feet,
and he that sat upon him seemed to have armour of
gold.
26 Moreover there appeared two other young men
beautiful and strong, bright and glorious, and in comely apparel: who stood
by him, on either side, and scourged him without ceasing with many stripes.
27 Arid Heliodorus
suddenly fell to the ground, and they took him up covered with great
darkness, and having put him into a litter they carried him out.
28 So he that came with many servants, and
all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, was carried out, no one being able
to help him, the manifest power of God being known.
29 And he indeed by the power of God lay
speechless, and without all hope of recovery.
30 But they praised the Lord because he had
glorified his place: and the temple, that a little before was full of fear
and trouble, when the almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and
gladness.
31 Then some of the friends of Heliodorus forthwith begged of Onias,
that he would call upon the most High to grant him his life, who was ready to
give up the ghost.
32 So the high priest considering that the
king might perhaps suspect that some mischief had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a sacrifice of health for
the recovery of the man.
33 And when the high priest was praying, the
same young men in the same clothing stood by Heliodorus,
and said to him: Give thanks to Onias the priest:
because for his sake the Lord hath granted thee life.
34 And thou having been scourged by God, declare
unto all men the great works and the power of God. And having spoken thus,
they appeared no more.
35 So Heliodorus
after he had offered a sacrifice to God, and made great vows to him, that had
granted him life, and given thanks to Onias, taking
his troops with him, returned to the king.
36 And he testified to all men the works of
the great God, which he had seen with his own eyes.
37 And when the king asked Heliodorus,
who might be a fit man to be sent yet once more to
Jerusalem, he said:
38 If thou hast any enemy or traitor to thy
kingdom, send him thither, and thou shalt receive
him again scourged, if so be he escape: for there
is undoubtedly in that place a certain power of God.
39 For he that hath his dwelling in the
heavens, is the visitor, and protector of that place, and he striketh and destroyeth them
that come to do evil to it.
40 And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the treasury fell out in
this manner.
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1- حين كانت المدينة المقدسة
عامرة امنة و الشرائع محفوظة غاية الحفظ لما كان عليه اونيا الكاهن الاعظم من
الورع و البغض للشر.
2- كان الملوك انفسهم يعظمون
المقدس و يكرمون الهيكل بافخر التقادم.
3- حتى ان سلوقس ملك اسية كان يؤدي من دخله
الخاص جميع النفقات المختصة بتقديم الذبائح.
4- و ان رجلا اسمه سمعان من سبط
بنيامين كان مقلدا الوكالة على الهيكل وقعت مخاصمة بينه و بين الكاهن الاعظم
لاجل ظلم جناه على المدينة.
5- و اذ لم يمكنه التغلب على اونيا انطلق الى
ابلونيوس بن ترساوس و كان اذ ذاك قائدا في بقاع سورية و فينيقية.
6- و اخبره ان الخزانة التي في
اورشليم مشحونة من الاموال بما لا يستطاع وصفه حتى ان الدخل لا يحصى لكثرته و ان
ذلك ليس بمختص بنفقة الذبائح فيتهيا للملك ادخال ذلك كله في حوزته.
7- ففاوض ابلونيوس الملك و اعلمه
بالاموال التي وصفت له فاختار هليودورس قيم المصالح و ارسله و امره بجلب الاموال
المذكورة.
8- فتوجه هليودورس لساعته قاصدا في الظاهر
التطوف في مدن بقاع سورية و فينيقية و كان في الواقع يقصد انفاذ مرام الملك.
9- فلما جاء اورشليم احسن الكاهن
الاعظم ملتقاه فحدثه بما كوشفوا به و صرح له بسبب قدومه و ساله هل الامر في
الحقيقة كما ذكر له.
10- فذكر له الكاهن الاعظم ان المال هو ودائع
للارامل و اليتامى.
11- و ان قسما منه لهركانس بن
طوبيا احد عظماء الاشراف ثم ان الامر ليس على ما وشى به سمعان المنافق و انما
المال كله اربعون قنطار فضة و مئتا قنطار ذهب.
12- فلا يجوز بوجه من الوجوه هضم الذين
ائتمنوا قداسة الموضع و مهابة و حرمة الهيكل المكرم في المسكونة كلها.
13- لكن هليودورس بناء على امر الملك اصر على حمل الاموال الى خزانة
الملك.
14- و عين يوما دخل فيه للفحص عن
ذلك فكان في جميع المدينة ارتعاش شديد.
15- و انطرح الكهنة امام المذبح بحللهم
الكهنوتية يبتهلون نحو السماء الى الذي سن في الودائع ان تصان لمستودعها.
16- و كان من راى وجه الكاهن الاعظم يتفطر
فؤاده لان منظره و امتقاع لونه كانا ينبئان بما في نفسه من الارتعاش.
17- اذ كان الرجل قد اشتمل عليه
الرعب و القشعريرة فكانا يدلان الرائين على ما في قلبه من الكابة.
18- و كان الناس يتبادرون من
البيوت افواجا ليصلوا صلاة عامة لسبب الهوان المشرف على الموضع.
19- و كانت النساء يزدحمن في
الشوارع و هن متحزمات بالمسوح تحت ثديهن و العذارى ربات الخدور يتجارين بعضهن
الى الابواب و بعضهن الى الاسوار و اخريات يتطلعن من الكوى.
20- و كلهن باسطات ايديهن الى
السماء يتضرعن بالابتهال.
21- فكان انكسار الجمهور و
انتظار الكاهن الاعظم و هو في ارتعاش شديد مما يصدع القلب رحمة.
22- و كانوا يتضرعون الى الاله القدير ان يحفظ
الودائع موفوره لمستودعيها.
23- اما هليودورس فكان اخذا في اتمام ما قضى
به و قد حضر هناك مع شرطه في الخزانة.
24- فصنع رب ابائنا و سلطان كل
قدرة اية عظيمة حتى ان جميع الذين اجتراوا على الدخول صرعتهم قدرة الله و اخذهم
الانحلال و الرعب.
25- و ذلك انه ظهر لهم فرس عليه
راكب مخيف و جهازه فاخر فوثب و ضرب هليودورس بحوافر يديه و كانت عدة الراكب
كانها من ذهب.
26- و تراءى ايضا لهليودورس فتيان عجيبا القوة
بديعا البهاء حسنا اللباس فوقفا على جانبيه يجلدانه جلدا متواصلا حتى اثخناه
بالضرب.
27- فسقط لساعته على الارض و
غشيه ظلام كثيف فرفعوه و جعلوه على محمل.
28- فاذا به بعد ان دخل الخزانة المذكورة في
موكب حافل و جند كثير قد اصبح محمولا لا مغيث له و قد تجلت لهم قدرة الله
علانية.
29- فكان مطروحا بالقوة الالهية
ابكم منقطع الرجاء من الخلاص.
30- و اليهود يباركون الرب الذي
مجد مقدسه و قد امتلا الهيكل ابتهاجا و تهللا اذ تجلى فيه الرب القدير بعدما كان
قبيل ذلك مملوءا خوفا و اضطرابا.
31- فبادر بعض من اصحاب هليودورس
و سالوا اونيا ان يبتهل الى العلي و يمن عليه بالحياة اذ كان قد اصبح على اخر
رمق.
32- فخالج قلب الكاهن الاعظم ان
الملك ربما اتهم اليهود بمكيدة كادوها لهليودورس فقدم الذبيحة من اجل خلاص
الرجل.
33- و بينما الكاهن الاعظم يقدم
الكفارة اذ عاد ذانك الفتيان فظهر لهليودورس بلباسهما الاول و وقفا و قالا عليك
بجزيل الشكر لاونيا الكاهن الاعظم فان الرب قد من عليك بالحياة من اجله.
34- و انت ايها المجلود فاخبر
الجميع بقدرة الله العظيمة قالا ذلك و غابا عن النظر.
35- فقدم هليودورس ذبيحة للرب و صلى اليه
صلوات عظيمة على انه من عليه بالحياة و شكر اونيا و رجع بجيشه الى الملك.
36- و كان يعترف امام الجميع بما
عاينه من اعمال الله العظيم.
37- و سال الملك هليودورس من ترى
يكون اهلا لان نعود فنرسله الى اورشليم فقال.
38- ان كان لك عدو او صاحب دسيسة
في المملكة فارسله الى هناك فيرجع اليك مجلودا ان نجا فان في ذلك الموضع قدرة
الهية لا محالة.
39- لان الذي مسكنه في السماء هو
يراقب الموضع و يدافع عنه فيضرب الذين يقصدون بالشر و يهلكهم.
40- هذا ما كان من امر هليودورس
و حماية الخزانة
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