2 Maccabees 3:1-6:11

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Arrival of Heliodorus in Jerusalem

3 While the holy city was inhabited in unbroken peace and the laws were very well observed because of the piety of the high priest Oni′as and his hatred of wickedness, ² it came about that the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the finest presents, ³ so that even Seleu′cus, the king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses connected with the service of the sacrifices. 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 and when he could not prevail over Oni′as he went to Apollo′nius of Tarsus,^[a] who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenic′ia. 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 When Apollo′nius met the king, he told him of the money about which he had been informed. The king^[b] chose Heliodor′us, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with commands to effect the removal of the aforesaid money. ⁸ Heliodor′us at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to make a tour of inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenic′ia, but in fact to carry out the king’s purpose.

⁹ When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the high priest of^[c] 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 The high priest explained that there were some deposits belonging to widows and orphans, ¹¹ and also some money of Hyrca′nus, son of Tobi′as, 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 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 But Heliodor′us, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 And holding up their hands to heaven, they all made entreaty. ²¹ There was something pitiable in the prostration of the whole populace and the anxiety of the high priest in his great anguish.

The Lord Protects His Temple

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 Heliodor′us went on with what had been decided. 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 For there appeared to them a magnificently caparisoned horse, with a rider of frightening mien, and it rushed furiously at Heliodor′us and struck at him with its front hoofs. Its rider was seen to have armor and weapons of gold. 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 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 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 While he lay prostrate, speechless because of the divine intervention and deprived of any hope of recovery, 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.

Onias Prays for Heliodorus

³¹ Quickly some of Heliodor′us’ friends asked Oni′as to call upon the Most High and to grant life to one who was lying quite at his last breath. 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 Heliodor′us, offered sacrifice for the man’s recovery. ³³ While the high priest was making the offering of atonement, the same young men appeared again to Heliodor′us, dressed in the same clothing, and they stood and said, “Be very grateful to Oni′as the high priest, since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life. 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.

The Conversion of Heliodorus

³⁵ Then Heliodor′us offered sacrifice to the Lord and made very great vows to the Savior of his life, and having bidden Oni′as farewell, he marched off with his forces to the king. ³⁶ And he bore testimony to all men of the deeds of the supreme God, which he had seen with his own eyes. ³⁷ When the king asked Heliodor′us what sort of person would be suitable to send on another mission to Jerusalem, he replied, 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 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 This was the outcome of the episode of Heliodor′us and the protection of the treasury.

Simon Accuses Onias

4 The previously mentioned Simon, who had informed about the money against^[d] his own country, slandered Oni′as, saying that it was he who had incited Heliodor′us and had been the real cause of the misfortune. ² He dared to designate as a plotter against the government the man who was the benefactor of the city, the protector of his fellow countrymen, and a zealot for the laws. ³ When his hatred progressed to such a degree that even murders were committed by one of Simon’s approved agents, ⁴ Oni′as recognized that the rivalry was serious and that Apollo′nius, the son of Menes′theus^[e] and governor of Coelesyria and Phoenic′ia, was intensifying the malice of Simon. ⁵ So he betook himself to the king, not accusing his fellow citizens but having in view the welfare, both public and private, of all the people. ⁶ For he saw that without the king’s attention public affairs could not again reach a peaceful settlement, and that Simon would not stop his folly.

Jason’s Reforms

⁷ When Seleu′cus died and Anti′ochus who was called Epiph′anes succeeded to the kingdom, Jason the brother of Oni′as obtained the high priesthood by corruption, ⁸ promising the king at an interview^[f] three hundred and sixty talents of silver and, from another source of revenue, eighty talents. ⁹ In addition to this he promised to pay one hundred and fifty more if permission were given to establish by his authority a gymnasium and a body of youth for it, and to enrol the men of Jerusalem as citizens of Antioch. ¹⁰ When the king assented and Jason^[g] came to office, he at once shifted his countrymen over to the Greek way of life. ¹¹ He set aside the existing royal concessions to the Jews, secured through John the father of Eupole′mus, who went on the mission to establish friendship and alliance with the Romans; and he destroyed the lawful ways of living and introduced new customs contrary to the law. ¹² For with alacrity he founded a gymnasium right under the citadel, and he induced the noblest of the young men^[h] to wear the Greek hat. ¹³ There was such an extreme of Hellenization and increase in the adoption of foreign ways because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and no high priest, ¹⁴ that the priests were no longer intent upon their service at the altar. Despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices, they hastened to take part in the unlawful proceedings in the wrestling arena after the call to the discus, ¹⁵ disdaining the honors prized by their fathers and putting the highest value upon Greek forms of prestige. ¹⁶ For this reason heavy disaster overtook them, and those whose ways of living they admired and wished to imitate completely became their enemies and punished them. ¹⁷ For it is no light thing to show irreverence to the divine laws—a fact which later events will make clear.

Jason Introduces Greek Customs

¹⁸ When the quadrennial games were being held at Tyre and the king was present, ¹⁹ the vile Jason sent envoys, chosen as being Antioch′ian citizens from Jerusalem, to carry three hundred silver drachmas for the sacrifice to Her′cules. Those who carried the money, however, thought best not to use it for sacrifice, because that was inappropriate, but to expend it for another purpose. ²⁰ So this money was intended by the sender for the sacrifice to Her′cules, but by the decision of its carriers it was applied to the construction of triremes.

²¹ When Apollo′nius the son of Menes′theus was sent to Egypt for the coronation^[i] of Philome′tor as king, Anti′ochus learned that Philome′tor^[j] had become hostile to his government, and he took measures for his own security. Therefore upon arriving at Joppa he proceeded to Jerusalem. ²² He was welcomed magnificently by Jason and the city, and ushered in with a blaze of torches and with shouts. Then he marched into Phoenic′ia.

Menelaus Becomes High Priest

²³ After a period of three years Jason sent Menela′us, the brother of the previously mentioned Simon, to carry the money to the king and to complete the records of essential business. ²⁴ But he, when presented to the king, extolled him with an air of authority, and secured the high priesthood for himself, outbidding Jason by three hundred talents of silver. ²⁵ After receiving the king’s orders he returned, possessing no qualification for the high priesthood, but having the hot temper of a cruel tyrant and the rage of a savage wild beast. ²⁶ So Jason, who after supplanting his own brother was supplanted by another man, was driven as a fugitive into the land of Ammon. ²⁷ And Menela′us held the office, but he did not pay regularly any of the money promised to the king. ²⁸ When So′stratus the captain of the citadel kept requesting payment, for the collection of the revenue was his responsibility, the two of them were summoned by the king on account of this issue. ²⁹ Menela′us left his own brother Lysim′achus as deputy in the high priesthood, while So′stratus left Crates, the commander of the Cyprian troops.^[k]

The Murder of Onias

³⁰ While such was the state of affairs, it happened that the people of Tarsus and of Mallus revolted because their cities had been given as a present to Anti′ochis, the king’s concubine. ³¹ So the king went hastily to settle the trouble, leaving Androni′cus, a man of high rank, to act as his deputy. ³² But Menela′us, thinking he had obtained a suitable opportunity, stole some of the gold vessels of the temple and gave them to Androni′cus; other vessels, as it happened, he had sold to Tyre and the neighboring cities. ³³ When Oni′as became fully aware of these acts he publicly exposed them, having first withdrawn to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch. ³⁴ Therefore Menela′us, taking Androni′cus aside, urged him to kill Oni′as. Androni′cus^[l] came to Oni′as, and resorting to treachery offered him sworn pledges and gave him his right hand, and in spite of his suspicion persuaded Oni′as^[m] to come out from the place of sanctuary; then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him out of the way.^{[n] 35} For this reason not only Jews, but many also of other nations, were grieved and displeased at the unjust murder of the man. ³⁶ When the king returned from the region of Cilic′ia, the Jews in the city^[o] appealed to him with regard to the unreasonable murder of Oni′as, and the Greeks shared their hatred of the crime. ³⁷ Therefore Anti′ochus was grieved at heart and filled with pity, and wept because of the moderation and good conduct of the deceased; ³⁸ and inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off the purple robe from Androni′cus, tore off his garments, and led him about the whole city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against Oni′as, and there he dispatched the bloodthirsty fellow. The Lord thus repaid him with the punishment he deserved.

Unpopularity of Lysimachus and Menelaus

³⁹ When many acts of sacrilege had been committed in the city by Lysim′achus with the connivance of Menela′us, and when report of them had spread abroad, the populace gathered against Lysim′achus, because many of the gold vessels had already been stolen. ⁴⁰ And since the crowds were becoming aroused and filled with anger, Lysim′achus armed about three thousand men and launched an unjust attack, under the leadership of a certain Aura′nus,^[p] a man advanced in years and no less advanced in folly. ⁴¹ But when the Jews^[q] became aware of Lysim′achus’ attack, some picked up stones, some blocks of wood, and others took handfuls of the ashes that were lying about, and threw them in wild confusion at Lysim′achus and his men. ⁴² As a result, they wounded many of them, and killed some, and put them all to flight; and the temple robber himself they killed close by the treasury.

⁴³ Charges were brought against Menela′us about this incident. ⁴⁴ When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented the case before him. ⁴⁵ But Menela′us, already as good as beaten, promised a substantial bribe to Ptol′emy son of Dorym′enes to win over the king. ⁴⁶ Therefore Ptol′emy, taking the king aside into a colonnade as if for refreshment, induced the king to change his mind. ⁴⁷ Menela′us, the cause of all the evil, he acquitted of the charges against him, while he sentenced to death those unfortunate men, who would have been freed uncondemned if they had pleaded even before Scyth′ians. ⁴⁸ And so those who had spoken for the city and the villages^[r] and the holy vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty. ⁴⁹ Therefore even the Tyr′ians, showing their hatred of the crime, provided magnificently for their funeral. ⁵⁰ But Menela′us, because of the cupidity of those in power, remained in office, growing in wickedness, having become the chief plotter against his fellow citizens.

Jason Tries to Regain Control

5 About this time Anti′ochus made his second invasion of Egypt. ² And it happened that over all the city, for almost forty days, there appeared golden-clad horsemen charging through the air, in companies fully armed with lances and drawn swords— ³ troops of horsemen drawn up, attacks and counterattacks made on this side and on that, brandishing of shields, massing of spears, hurling of missiles, the flash of golden trappings, and armor of all sorts. ⁴ Therefore all men prayed that the apparition might prove to have been a good omen.

⁵ When a false rumor arose that Anti′ochus was dead, Jason took no less than a thousand men and suddenly made an assault upon the city. When the troops upon the wall had been forced back and at last the city was being taken, Menela′us took refuge in the citadel. ⁶ But Jason kept relentlessly slaughtering his fellow citizens, not realizing that success at the cost of one’s kindred is the greatest misfortune, but imagining that he was setting up trophies of victory over enemies and not over fellow countrymen. ⁷ He did not gain control of the government, however; and in the end got only disgrace from his conspiracy, and fled again into the country of the Am′monites. ⁸ Finally he met a miserable end. Accused^[s] before Ar′etas the ruler of the Arabs, fleeing from city to city, pursued by all men, hated as a rebel against the laws, and abhorred as the executioner of his country and his fellow citizens, he was cast ashore in Egypt; ⁹ and he who had driven many from their own country into exile died in exile, having embarked to go to the Lacedaemo′nians in hope of finding protection because of their kinship. ¹⁰ He who had cast out many to lie unburied had no one to mourn for him; he had no funeral of any sort and no place in the tomb of his fathers.

¹¹ When news of what had happened reached the king, he took it to mean that Judea was in revolt. So, raging inwardly, he left Egypt and took the city by storm. ¹² And he commanded his soldiers to cut down relentlessly every one they met and to slay those who went into the houses. ¹³ Then there was killing of young and old, destruction of boys, women, and children, and slaughter of virgins and infants. ¹⁴ Within the total of three days eighty thousand were destroyed, forty thousand in hand-to-hand fighting; and as many were sold into slavery as were slain.

Pillage of the Temple

¹⁵ Not content with this, Anti′ochus^[t] dared to enter the most holy temple in all the world, guided by Menela′us, who had become a traitor both to the laws and to his country. ¹⁶ He took the holy vessels with his polluted hands, and swept away with profane hands the votive offerings which other kings had made to enhance the glory and honor of the place. ¹⁷ Anti′ochus was elated in spirit, and did not perceive that the Lord was angered for a little while because of the sins of those who dwelt in the city, and that therefore he was disregarding the holy place. ¹⁸ But if it had not happened that they were involved in many sins, this man would have been scourged and turned back from his rash act as soon as he came forward, just as Heliodor′us was, whom Seleu′cus the king sent to inspect the treasury. ¹⁹ But the Lord did not choose the nation for the sake of the holy place, but the place for the sake of the nation. ²⁰ Therefore the place itself shared in the misfortunes that befell the nation and afterward participated in its benefits; and what was forsaken in the wrath of the Almighty was restored again in all its glory when the great Lord became reconciled.

²¹ So Anti′ochus carried off eighteen hundred talents from the temple, and hurried away to Antioch, thinking in his arrogance that he could sail on the land and walk on the sea, because his mind was elated. ²² And he left governors to afflict the people: at Jerusalem, Philip, by birth a Phryg′ian and in character more barbarous than the man who appointed him; ²³ and at Geri′zim, Androni′cus; and besides these Menela′us, who lorded it over his fellow citizens worse than the others did. In his malice toward the Jewish citizens,^{[u] 24} Anti′ochus^[v] sent Apollo′nius, the captain of the My′sians, with an army of twenty-two thousand, and commanded him to slay all the grown men and to sell the women and boys as slaves. ²⁵ When this man arrived in Jerusalem, he pretended to be peaceably disposed and waited until the holy sabbath day; then, finding the Jews not at work, he ordered his men to parade under arms. ²⁶ He put to the sword all those who came out to see them, then rushed into the city with his armed men and killed great numbers of people.

²⁷ But Judas Maccabe′us, with about nine others, got away to the wilderness, and kept himself and his companions alive in the mountains as wild animals do; they continued to live on what grew wild, so that they might not share in the defilement.

The Suppression of Judaism

6 Not long after this, the king sent an Athenian^[w] senator^[x] to compel the Jews to forsake the laws of their fathers and cease to live by the laws of God, ² and also to pollute the temple in Jerusalem and call it the temple of Olympian Zeus, and to call the one in Geri′zim the temple of Zeus the Friend of Strangers, as did the people who dwelt in that place.

³ Harsh and utterly grievous was the onslaught of evil. ⁴ For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and besides brought in things for sacrifice that were unfit. ⁵ The altar was covered with abominable offerings which were forbidden by the laws. ⁶ A man could neither keep the sabbath, nor observe the feasts of his fathers, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew.

⁷ On the monthly celebration of the king’s birthday, the Jews^[y] were taken, under bitter constraint, to partake of the sacrifices; and when the feast of Diony′sus came, they were compelled to walk in the procession in honor of Diony′sus, wearing wreaths of ivy. ⁸ At the suggestion of Ptol′emy a decree was issued to the neighboring Greek cities, that they should adopt the same policy toward the Jews and make them partake of the sacrifices, ⁹ and should slay those who did not choose to change over to Greek customs. One could see, therefore, the misery that had come upon them. ¹⁰ For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children. These women they publicly paraded about the city, with their babies hung at their breasts, then hurled them down headlong from the wall. ¹¹ Others who had assembled in the caves near by, to observe the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of their regard for that most holy day.