3:7 Now when Apollonius came to the king, and had shewed him of the
money whereof he was told, the king chose out Heliodorus his treasurer,
and sent him with a commandment to bring him the foresaid money.
3:8 So forthwith Heliodorus took his journey; under a colour of
visiting the cities of Celosyria and Phenice, but indeed to fulfil the
king’s purpose.
3:9 And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously
received of the high priest of the city, he told him what intelligence
was given of the money, and declared wherefore he came, and asked if
these things were so indeed.
3:10 Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up
for the relief of widows and fatherless children:
3:11 And that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of
great dignity, and not as that wicked Simon had misinformed: the sum
whereof in all was four hundred talents of silver, and two hundred of
gold:
3:12 And that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should be
done unto them, that had committed it to the holiness of the place, and
to the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honoured over all
the world.
3:13 But Heliodorus, because of the king’s commandment given him, said,
That in any wise it must be brought into the king’s treasury.
3:14 So at the day which he appointed he entered in to order this
matter: wherefore there was no small agony throughout the whole city.
3:15 But the priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their
priests’ vestments, called unto heaven upon him that made a law
concerning things given to be kept, that they should safely be
preserved for such as had committed them to be kept.
3:16 Then whoso had looked the high priest in the face, it would have
wounded his heart: for his countenance and the changing of his colour
declared the inward agony of his mind.
3:17 For the man was so compassed with fear and horror of the body,
that it was manifest to them that looked upon him, what sorrow he had
now in his heart.
3:18 Others ran flocking out of their houses to the general
supplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.
3:19 And the women, girt with sackcloth under their breasts, abounded
in the streets, and the virgins that were kept in ran, some to the
gates, and some to the walls, and others looked out of the windows.
3:20 And all, holding their hands toward heaven, made supplication.
3:21 Then it would have pitied a man to see the falling down of the
multitude of all sorts, and the fear of the high priest being in such
an agony.
3:22 They then called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things
committed of trust safe and sure for those that had committed them.
3:23 Nevertheless Heliodorus executed that which was decreed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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