2 Macabeos 3

1En el tiempo que la Ciudad Santa gozaba de una plena paz, y que las leyes se observaban muy exactamente por la piedad del pontífice Onías, y el odio que tenía a la maldad;

2nacía de esto que aun los mismos reyes y príncipes honraban sumamente aquel lugar, y enriquecían el Templo con grandes dones;

3de manera que Seleuco, rey de Asia, costeaba de sus rentas todos los gastos que se hacían en los sacrificios.

4En medio de esto, Simón, de la tribu de Benjamín, y creado prefecto del Templo, maquinaba con ansia hacer algún mal en esta ciudad; pero se le oponía el Sumo Sacerdote.

5Viendo que no podía vencer a Onías, pasó a verse con Apolonio, hijo de Tarseas, que en aquella sazón era gobernador de Celesiria y de Fenicia,

6y le contó que el erario de Jerusalén estaba lleno de inmensas sumas de dinero, y de riquezas en general, las cuales no servían para los gastos de los sacrificios; y que se podría hallar medio para que todo entrase en poder del rey.

7Habiendo Apolonio dado cuenta al rey respecto del dinero que a él le había sido denunciado, llamó el rey a Heliodoro, su ministro de hacienda, y le envió con orden de transportar todo el dinero referido.

8Heliodoro se puso luego en camino con el pretexto de ir a recorrer las ciudades de Celesiria y Fenicia, mas en realidad para poner en ejecución el designio del rey.

9Habiendo llegado a Jerusalén, y sido bien recibido en la ciudad por el Sumo Sacerdote, le declaró a este la denuncia que le había sido hecha de aquellas riquezas, y le manifestó que este era el motivo de su viaje; preguntándole luego si verdaderamente era la cosa como se le dijo.

10Entonces el Sumo Sacerdote le representó que aquellos eran unos depósitos y alimentos de viudas y huérfanos;

11y que entre lo que había denunciado el impío Simón había una parte que era de Hircano Tobías, varón muy eminente, y que el todo eran cuatrocientos talentos de plata, y doscientos de oro;

12que por otra parte de ningún modo se podía defraudar a aquellos que habían depositado sus caudales en un lugar y templo honrado y venerado como sagrado por todo el universo.

13Mas Heliodoro, insistiendo en las órdenes que llevaba del rey, repuso que de todos modos se había de llevar al rey aquel tesoro.

14En efecto, en el día señalado entró Heliodoro para ejecutar su designio, con lo cual se llenó de consternación toda la ciudad.

15Y los sacerdotes, revestidos con las vestiduras sacerdotales, se postraron por tierra ante el altar, e invocaban a Aquel que está en el cielo, y que puso la ley acerca de los depósitos, suplicándole que los conservase salvos para los depositadores.

16Ninguno podía mirar el rostro del Sumo Sacerdote sin que su corazón quedase traspasado de aflicción; porque su semblante y color demudado manifestaban el interno dolor de su ánimo.

17La tristeza esparcida por todo su rostro, y un temblor que se había apoderado de todo su cuerpo, mostraban bien a los que le miraban, la pena de su corazón.

18Salían al mismo tiempo muchos a tropel de sus casas, pidiendo con públicas rogativas que (Dios) no permitiese que aquel lugar quedase expuesto al desprecio.

19Las mujeres, ceñidas hasta el pecho de cilicios, andaban en tropas por las calles; y hasta las doncellas mismas, que antes se quedaban en casa, corrían unas adonde estaba Onías, otras hacia las murallas, y algunas otras estaban mirando desde las ventanas;

20pero todas levantando al cielo sus manos, dirigían allí sus plegarias.

21A la verdad, era un espectáculo digno de compasión el ver aquella confusa turba de gente, y al Sumo Sacerdote puesto en tan grande conflicto.

22Mientras tanto estos por su parte invocaban al Dios Todopoderoso para que conservase intacto el depósito de aquellos que se lo habían confiado.

23Heliodoro no pensaba en otra cosa que en ejecutar su designio; y para ello se había presentado ya él mismo con sus guardias a la puerta del erario.

24Mas el espíritu del Dios todopoderoso se hizo allí manifiesto con señales bien patentes, en tal conformidad, que derribados en tierra por una virtud divina cuantos habían osado obedecer a Heliodoro, quedaron como yertos y despavoridos.

25Porque se les apareció montado en un caballo un personaje de fulminante aspecto, y magníficamente vestido, cuyas armas parecían de oro, el cual acometiendo con ímpetu a Heliodoro le pateó con los pies delanteros del caballo.

26Se aparecieron también otros dos gallardos y robustos jóvenes llenos de majestad, y ricamente vestidos, los cuales poniéndose uno a cada lado de Heliodoro, empezaron a azotarle cada uno por su parte, descargando sobre él continuos golpes.

27Con esto, Heliodoro cayó luego por tierra envuelto en oscuridad y tinieblas; y habiéndole tomado y puesto en una silla de manos, le sacaron de allí.

28De esta suerte, aquel que había entrado en el erario con tanto aparato de guardias y ministros, era llevado sin que nadie pudiese valerle; habiéndose manifestado visiblemente el poder de Dios.

29Por un efecto del divino poder, Heliodoro yacía sin habla, y sin ninguna esperanza de vida.

30Por el contrario, los otros bendecían al Señor, porque había ensalzado con esto la gloria de su lugar; y el Templo que poco antes estaba lleno de confusión y temor, se llenó de alegría y regocijo luego que hizo ver el Señor su omnipotencia.

31Entonces algunos amigos de Heliodoro rogaron con insistencia a Onías que invocase al Altísimo, a fin de que concediese la vida a Heliodoro, reducido ya a los últimos alientos.

32El Sumo Sacerdote, considerando que quizá el rey podría sospechar que los judíos habían urdido alguna trama contra Heliodoro, ofreció una víctima de salud por su curación,

33y al tiempo que el Sumo Sacerdote estaba haciendo la súplica, aquellos mismos jóvenes, con las mismas vestiduras, poniéndose junto a Heliodoro, le dijeron: “Dale las gracias al sacerdote Onías, pues por amor de él te concede el Señor la vida.

34Y habiendo tú sido castigado por Dios, anuncia a todo el mundo sus maravillas y su poder”. Dicho esto desaparecieron.

35En efecto, Heliodoro, habiendo ofrecido un sacrificio a Dios, y hecho grandes votos a Aquel que le había concedido la vida, y dadas las gracias a Onías, recogiendo su gente se volvió para el rey.

36Y atestiguaba a todo el mundo las obras del gran Dios, que había visto él con sus propios ojos.

37Y como el rey preguntase a Heliodoro quién sería bueno para ir de nuevo a Jerusalén contestó:

38“Si tú tienes algún enemigo o quien atente contra tu reino, envíale allá, y le verás volver desgarrado a azotes, si es que escapare con vida; porque no se puede dudar que reside en aquel lugar una cierta virtud divina.

39Pues Aquel mismo que tiene su morada en los cielos, está presente y protege aquel lugar, y castiga y hace perecer a los que van a hacer allí algún mal”.

40Esto es, en suma, lo que pasó a Heliodoro, y el modo con que se conservó el tesoro.

1Igitur cum sancta civitas habitaretur in omni pace, leges etiam adhuc optime custodirentur, propter Oniæ pontificis pietatem, et animos odio habentes mala,

2fiebat ut et ipsi reges et principes locum summo honore dignum ducerent, et templum maximis muneribus illustrarent:

3ita ut Seleucus Asiæ rex de redditibus suis præstaret omnes sumptus ad ministerium sacrificiorum pertinentes.

4Simon autem de tribu Benjamin, præpositus templi constitutus, contendebat, obsistente sibi principe sacerdotum, iniquum aliquid in civitate moliri.

5Sed cum vincere Oniam non posset, venit ad Apollonium Tharsææ filium, qui eo tempore erat dux Cœlesyriæ et Phœnicis:

6et nuntiavit ei pecuniis innumerabilibus plenum esse ærarium Jerosolymis, et communes copias immensas esse, quæ non pertinent ad rationem sacrificiorum: esse autem possibile sub potestate regis cadere universa.

7Cumque retulisset ad regem Apollonius de pecuniis quæ delatæ erant, illæ accitum Heliodorum, qui erat super negotia ejus, misit, cum mandatis ut prædictam pecuniam transportaret.

8Statimque Heliodorus iter est agressus, specie quidem quasi per Cœlesyriam et Phœnicen civitates esset peragraturus, re vera autem regis propositum perfecturus.

9Sed cum venisset Jerosolymam, et benigne a summo sacerdote in civitate esset exceptus, narravit de dato indicio pecuniarum, et cujus rei gratia adesset, aperuit: interrogabat autem si vere hæc ita essent.

10Tunc summus sacerdos ostendit deposita esse hæc, et victualia viduarum et pupillorum:

11quædam vero esse Hircani Tobiæ viri valde eminentis, in his quæ detulerat impius Simon: universa autem argenti talenta esse quadringenta, et auri ducenta:

12decipi vero eos qui credidissent loco et templo quod per universum mundum honoratur pro sui veneratione et sanctitate, omnino impossibile esse.

13At ille pro his quæ habebat in mandatis a rege, dicebat omni genere regi ea esse deferenda.

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

15Sacerdotes autem ante altare cum stolis sacerdotalibus jactaverunt se, et invocabant de cælo eum qui de depositis legem posuit, ut his qui deposuerant ea salva custodiret.

16Jam vero qui videbat summi sacerdotis vultum, mente vulnerabatur: facies enim et color immutatus declarabat internum animi dolorem:

17circumfusa enim erat mœstitia quædam viro, et horror corporis, per quem manifestus aspicientibus dolor cordis ejus efficiebatur.

18Alii etiam gregatim de domibus confluebant, publica supplicatione obsecrantes, pro eo quod in contemptum locus esset venturus.

19Accinctæque mulieres ciliciis pectus, per plateas confluebant: sed et virgines quæ conclusæ erant, procurrebant ad Oniam, aliæ autem ad muros, quædam vero per fenestras aspiciebant:

20universæ autem protendentes manus in cælum, deprecabantur:

21erat enim misera commistæ multitudinis, et magni sacerdotis in agone constituti exspectatio.

22Et hi quidem invocabant omnipotentem Deum, ut credita sibi his qui crediderant, cum omni integritate conservarentur.

23Heliodorus autem, quod decreverat, perficiebat eodem loco ipse cum satellitibus circa ærarium præsens.

24Sed spiritus omnipotentis Dei magnam fecit suæ ostensionis evidentiam, ita ut omnes qui ausi fuerant parere ei, ruentes Dei virtute, in dissolutionem et formidinem converterentur.

25Apparuit enim illis quidam equus terribilem habens sessorem, optimis operimentis adornatus: isque cum impetu Heliodoro priores calces elisit: qui autem ei sedebat, videbatur arma habere aurea.

26Alii etiam apparuerunt duo juvenes virtute decori, optimi gloria, speciosique amictu: qui circumsteterunt eum, et ex utraque parte flagellabant, sine intermissione multis plagis verberantes.

27Subito autem Heliodorus concidit in terram, eumque multa caligine circumfusum rapuerunt, atque in sella gestatoria positum ejecerunt.

28Et is, qui cum multis cursoribus et satellitibus prædictum ingressus est ærarium, portabatur nullo sibi auxilium ferente, manifesta Dei cognita virtute:

29et ille quidem per divinam virtutem jacebat mutus, atque omni spe et salute privatus.

30Hi autem Dominum benedicebant, quia magnificabat locum suum: et templum, quod paulo ante timore ac tumultu erat plenum, apparente omnipotente Domino, gaudio et lætitia impletum est.

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

32Considerans autem summus sacerdos ne forte rex suspicaretur malitiam aliquam ex Judæis circa Heliodorum consummatum, obtulit pro salute viri hostiam salutarem.

33Cumque summus sacerdos exoraret, iidem juvenes eisdem vestibus amicti astantes Heliodoro, dixerunt: Oniæ sacerdoti gratias age: nam propter eum Dominus tibi vitam donavit.

34Tu autem a Deo flagellatus, nuntia omnibus magnalia Dei, et potestatem. Et his dictis, non comparuerunt.

35Heliodorus autem, hostia Deo oblata, et votis magnis promissis ei qui vivere illi concessit, et Oniæ gratias agens, recepto exercitu, repedabat ad regem.

36Testabatur autem omnibus ea quæ sub oculis suis viderat opera magni Dei.

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

38Si quem habes hostem, aut regni tui insidiatorem, mitte illuc, et flagellatum eum recipies, si tamen evaserit: eo quod in loco sit vere Dei quædam virtus.

39Nam ipse, qui habet in cælis habitationem, visitator et adjutor est loci illius, et venientes ad malefaciendum percutit ac perdit.

40Igitur de Heliodoro et ærarii custodia ita res se habet.

1Therefore 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,

2It 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:

3So that Seleucus king of Asia allowed out of his revenues all the charges belonging to the ministry of the sacrifices.

4But 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.

5And when he could not overcome Onias he went to Apollonius the son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria and Phenicia:

6And 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.

7Now 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.

8So Heliodorus forthwith began his journey, under a colour of visiting the cities of Celesyria and Phenicia, but indeed to fulfill the king’s purpose.

9And 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.

10Then the high priest told him that these were sums deposited, and provisions for the subsistence of the widows and the fatherless.

11And 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:

12But 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.

13But 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.

14So on the day he had appointed, Heliodorus entered in to order this matter. But there was no small terror throughout the whole city.

15And the priests prostrated themselves 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.

16Now 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.

17For 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.

18Others also came hocking together out of their houses, praying and making public supplication, because the place was like to come into contempt.

19And 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.

20And all holding up their hands towards heaven, made supplication.

21For the expectation of the mixed multitude, and of the high priest who was in an agony, would have moved any one to pity.

22And these indeed called upon almighty God, to preserve the things that had been committed to them, safe and sure for those that had committed them.

23But Heliodorus executed that which he had resolved on, himself being present in the same place with his guard about the treasury.

24But 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.

25For 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.

26Moreover 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.

27Arid 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.

28So 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.

29And he indeed by the power of God lay speechless, and without all hope of recovery.

30But 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.

31Then 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.

32So 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.

33And 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.

34And 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.

35So 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.

36And he testified to all men the works of the great God, which he had seen with his own eyes.

37And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be sent yet once more to Jerusalem, he said:

38If 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.

39For 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.

40And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the treasury fell out in this manner.