Topical Encyclopedia Heliodorus is a figure mentioned in the deuterocanonical book of 2 Maccabees, which is part of the Apocrypha in Protestant traditions and included in the canon of Scripture by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. His account is primarily found in 2 Maccabees 3, where he is depicted as an official serving under King Seleucus IV Philopator of the Seleucid Empire.Historical Context Heliodorus served as a high-ranking official, often referred to as the treasurer or finance minister, under Seleucus IV, who ruled from 187 to 175 BC. During this period, the Seleucid Empire was one of the Hellenistic states that emerged following the division of Alexander the Great's empire. The empire included the region of Judea, where the Jewish people lived under foreign rule. The Mission to Jerusalem The account of Heliodorus in 2 Maccabees 3 describes his mission to Jerusalem, which was prompted by a report of substantial wealth stored in the Jewish Temple. The high priest at the time, Onias III, was known for his piety and dedication to the Temple. However, Simon, a member of the priestly order, informed the king's court of the vast treasures in the Temple, hoping to gain favor and possibly a share of the wealth. Seleucus IV, in need of funds to support his administration and military campaigns, dispatched Heliodorus to confiscate the reported riches. The narrative in 2 Maccabees 3:7-8 states, "When Apollonius met with the king, he informed him of the money about which he had been told. So the king appointed Heliodorus, who was in charge of his affairs, and sent him with orders to seize the reported wealth." Divine Intervention As Heliodorus arrived in Jerusalem and prepared to enter the Temple to seize its treasures, a remarkable event occurred. The account in 2 Maccabees 3:24-26 describes a divine intervention: "But when Heliodorus arrived at the treasury with his bodyguards, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused such a great manifestation that all who had dared to accompany him were astounded by the power of God, and they fainted in terror." The text goes on to describe a vision of a majestic horse with a fearsome rider, accompanied by two young men of great strength and beauty, who struck Heliodorus, leaving him prostrate and near death. This miraculous event is seen as a divine defense of the sanctity of the Temple and a testament to God's protection over His people and their sacred institutions. Aftermath Following this divine encounter, Heliodorus was carried away by his attendants, and Onias, moved by compassion, offered sacrifices and prayers for his recovery. Heliodorus, upon regaining his health, acknowledged the power of the God of Israel and returned to the king, reporting all that had transpired. The account in 2 Maccabees 3:36 notes, "Thus, Heliodorus testified to all men about the works of the supreme God, which he had seen with his own eyes." Significance The account of Heliodorus serves as a powerful narrative illustrating the sovereignty of God over earthly powers and the protection of His holy places. It underscores the theme of divine justice and intervention, a recurring motif in the biblical and intertestamental literature. For the Jewish people, this account would have been a source of encouragement and a reminder of God's faithfulness amidst foreign domination and internal strife. While Heliodorus is not mentioned in the canonical books of the Protestant Bible, his account in 2 Maccabees provides valuable insight into the historical and religious context of the Second Temple period, highlighting the tensions between the Jewish community and the Hellenistic rulers. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia HELIODORUShe-li-o-do'-rus (Heliodoros): Treasurer of the Syrian king Seleucus IV, Philopator (187-175 B.C.), the immediate predecessor of Antiochus Epiphanes who carried out to its utmost extremity the Hellenizing policy begun by Seleucus and the "sons of Tobias." Greatly in want of money to pay the tribute due to the Romans as one of the results of the victory of Scipio over Antiochus the Great at Magnesia (190 B.C.), Seleucus learned from Apollonius, governor of Coele-Syria (Pal) and Phoenicia, of the wealth which was reported to be stored up in the Temple at Jerusalem and commissioned Heliodorus. (2 Maccabees 3) to plunder the temple and to bring its contents to him. On the wealth collected in the Temple at this time, Josephus (Ant., IV, vii, 2) may be consulted. The Temple seems to have served the purposes of a bank in which the private deposits of widows and orphans were kept for greater security, and in 2 Maccabees 3:15-21 is narrated the panic at Jerusalem which took place when Heliodorus came with an armed guard to seize the contents of the Temple (see Stanley, Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church, III, 287). In spite of the protest of Onias, the high priest, Heliodorus. was proceeding to carry out his commission when, "through the Lord of Spirits and the Prince of all power," a great apparition appeared which caused him to fall down "compassed with great darkness" and speechless. When "quite at the last gasp" he was by the intercession of Onias restored to life and strength and "testified to all men the works of the great God which he had beheld with his eyes." The narrative given in 2 Maccabees 3 is not mentioned by any other historian, though 4 Maccabees refers to the plundering of the Temple and assigns the deed to Apollonius. Raffaelle used the incident in depicting, on the walls of the Vatican, the triumph of Pope Julius II over the enemies of the Pontificate. Library Heliodorus Heliodorus Letter Lx. To Heliodorus. Letter xiv. To Heliodorus, Monk. Monks of Syria and Persia: Battheus, Eusebius, Barges, Halas, Abbo ... The Property of Widows or of all the Faithful... The Syrian Persecution. Letter Lii. To Nepotian. Life of Jerome. Jerome and Gennadius Lives of Illustrious Men. Thesaurus Heliodorus... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HELIODORUS. he-li-o ... Church, III, 287). In spite of the protest of Onias, the high priest, Heliodorus. ... /h/heliodorus.htm - 8k Onias Epiphanes Antiochus Desolation (131 Occurrences) Maccabaeus Apollonius Seleucus Hyrcanus Heliopolis (1 Occurrence) Resources Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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