1 When the holy city was inhabited with
unbroken peace and the laws were kept very
well because of the godliness of Onias
the high priest and his hatred of wickedness,

2 it came to pass that even the kings
themselves honored the place and glorified
the temple with the noblest presents,

3 so that even King Seleucus of Asia bore
allthe costs belonging to the services ofthe
sacrifices out of his own revenues.

4 But a man named Simon of the tribe of
Benjamin, having been made guardian of
the temple, disagreed with the high priest
about the ruling of the market in the city.

5 When he couldn’t overcome Onias, he
went to Apollonius of †Tarsus, who at
that time was governor of Coelesyria and
Phoenicia.

6 He brought him word how that the
treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold
sums of money, so that the multitude of
the funds was innumerable, and that they
didn’t pertain to the account of the
sacrifices, but that it was possible that these
should fall under the king’s power.

7 When Apollonius met the king, he
informed him of the money about which
he had been told. So the king appointed
Heliodorus, who was his chancellor, and
sent him with a command to accomplish
the removal of the reported money.

8 So Heliodorus set out on his journey
at once, ostensibly to visit the cities of
Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to
execute the king’s purpose.

9 When he had come to Jerusalem and
had been courteously received by the high
priest of the city, he told him about the
information which had been given, and
declared why he had come; and he inquired
if in truth these things were so.

10 The high priest explained to him that
there were in the treasury deposits
of widows and orphans,

11 and moreover some money belonging
to Hyrcanus the son of Tobias, a man in
very high place, not as that impious Simon
falsely alleged; and that in all there
were four hundred talents of silver and
two hundred of gold,

12 and that it was altogether impossible
that wrong should be done to those who
had put trust in the holiness of the place,
and in the majesty and inviolable sanctity
of the temple, honored over all the world.

13 But Heliodorus, because of the king’s
command given him, said that in any case
this money must be confiscated for the
king’s treasury.

14 So having appointed a day, he entered
in to direct the inquiry concerning these
matters; and there was no small distress
throughout the whole city.

15 The priests, prostrating themselves
before the altar in their priestly garments,
and called toward heaven upon him who
gave the law concerning deposits, that he
should preserve these treasures safe for
those who had deposited them.

16 Whoever saw the appearance of the
high priest was wounded in mind; for his
countenance and the change of his color
betrayed the distress of his soul.

17 For a terror and a shuddering of the
body had come over the man, by which
the pain that was in his heart was plainly
shown to those who looked at him.

18 Those who were in the houses rushed
out in crowds to make a universal s
upplication, because the place was about to
come into dishonor.

19 The women, girded with sackcloth
under their breasts, thronged the streets.
The virgins who were kept indoors ran
together, some to the gates, others to the
walls, and some looked out through the
windows.

20 All, stretching out their hands toward
heaven, made their solemn supplication.