8
Heliodorus at once set out on his journey, ostensibly to make a tour of inspection of the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, 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 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 Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, 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 Heliodorus, 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.