2 Maccabees · Brenton's Greek Septuagint
2 Maccabees 3 Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Ezra and Nehemiah form one book (2 Esdras) in this edition; the reader shows them as Ezra 1–10 and Nehemiah 1–13.
1 Τῆς ἁγίας τοίνυν πόλεως κατοικουμένης μετὰ πάσης εἰρήνης, καὶ τῶν νόμων ἕτι κάλλιστα συντηρουμένων διὰ τὴν Ὀνίου τοῦ ἀρχιερέως εὐσέβειάν τε καὶ μισοπονηρίαν,
1 When the holy city was inhabited with unbroken peace and the laws were kept very well because of the godliness of Onias the high priest and his hatred of wickedness,
2 συνέβαινε καὶ αὐτοὺς τοὺς βασιλεῖς τιμᾷν τὸν τόπον, καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἀποστολαῖς ταῖς κρατίσταις δοξάζειν,
2 it came to pass that even the kings themselves honored the place and glorified the temple with the noblest presents,
3 ὥστε καὶ Σέλευκον τὸν τῆς Ἀσίας βασιλέα χορηγεῖν ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων προσόδων πάντα τὰ πρὸς τὰς λειτουργίας τῶν θυσιῶν ἐπιβάλλοντα δαπανήματα.
3 so that even King Seleucus of Asia bore all the costs belonging to the services of the sacrifices out of his own revenues.
4 Σίμων δέ τις ἐκ τῆς Βενιαμὶν φυλῆς προστάτης τοῦ ἱεροῦ καθεσταμένος, διηνέχθη τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ περὶ τῆς κατὰ τὴν πόλιν παρανομίας·
4 But a man named Simon of the tribe of Benjamin, having been made guardian of the temple, disagreed with the high priest about the ruling of the market in the city.
5 καὶ νικῆσαι τὸν Ὀνίαν μὴ δυνάμενος, ἦλθε πρὸς Ἀπολλώνιον Θρασαίου, τὸν κατʼ ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν κοιλῆς Συρίας καὶ Φοινίκης στρατηγόν.
5 When he couldn’t overcome Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.
6 Καὶ προσήγγειλε περὶ τοῦ χρημάτων ἀμυθήτων γέμειν τὸ ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις γαζοφυλάκιον, ὥστε τὸ πλῆθος τῶν διαφόρων ἐναρίθμητον εἶναι, καὶ μὴ προσήκειν αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν τῶν θυσιῶν λόγον, εἶναι δὲ δυνατὸν ὑπὸ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἐξουσίαν πεσεῖν ἅπαντα ταῦτα.
6 He brought him word how that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of untold sums of money, so that the multitude of the funds was innumerable, and that they didn’t pertain to the account of the sacrifices, but that it was possible that these should fall under the king’s power.
7 Συμμίξας δὲ ὁ Ἀπολλώνιος τῷ βασιλεῖ, περὶ τῶν μηνυθέντων αὐτῷ χρημάτων ἐνεφάνισεν· ὁ δὲ προχειρισάμενος Ἡλιόδωρον τὸν ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων, ἀπέστειλε δοὺς ἐντολὰς, τὴν τῶν προειρημένων χρημάτων ἐκκομιδὴν ποιήσασθαι.
7 When Apollonius met the king, he informed him of the money about which he had been told. So the king appointed Heliodorus, who was his chancellor, and sent him with a command to accomplish the removal of the reported money.
8 Εὐθέως δὲ ὁ Ἡλιόδωρος ἐποιεῖτο τὴν παρείαν, τῇ μὲν ἐμφάσει ὡς τὰς κατὰ κοίλην Συρίαν καὶ Φοινίκην πόλεις ἐφοδεύσων, τῷ πράγματι δὲ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως πρόθεσιν ἐπιτελέσων.
8 So Heliodorus set out on his journey at once, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in fact to execute the king’s purpose.
9 Παραγενηθεὶς δὲ εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, καὶ φιλοφρόνως ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως τῆς πόλεως ἀποδεχθείς, ἀνέθετο περὶ τοῦ γεγονότος ἐμφανισμοῦ, καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν πάρεστι διεσάφήσεν· ἐπυνθάνετο δὲ εἰ ταῖς ἀληθείαις ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχοντα τυγχάνει.
9 When he had come to Jerusalem and had been courteously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information which had been given, and declared why he had come; and he inquired if in truth these things were so.
10 Τοῦ δὲ ἀρχιερέως ὑποδείξαντος παραθήκας εἶναι χηρῶν τε καὶ ὀρφανῶν,
10 The high priest explained to him that there were in the treasury deposits of widows and orphans,
11 τινὰ δὲ καὶ Ὑρκανοῦ τοῦ Τωβίου σφόδρα ἀνδρὸς ἐν ὑπεροχῇ κειμένου, οὐχ ὥσπερ ἦν διαβάλλων ὁ δυσσεβὴς Σίμων, τὰ δὲ πάντα ἀργυρίου τετρακόσια τάλαντα, χρυσίου δὲ διακόσια·
11 and moreover some money belonging to Hyrcanus the son of Tobias, a man in very high place, not as that impious Simon falsely alleged; and that in all there were four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold,
12 ἀδικηθῆναι δὲ τοὺς πεπιστευκότας τῇ τοῦ τόπου ἁγιωσύνῃ, καὶ τῇ τοῦ τετιμημένου κατὰ τὸν σύμπαντα κόσμον ἱεροῦ σεμνότητι καὶ ἀσυλίᾳ, παντελῶς ἀμήχανον εἶναι.
12 and that it was altogether impossible that wrong should be done to those who had put trust in the holiness of the place, and in the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honored over all the world.
13 Ὁ δὲ Ἡλιόδωρος διʼ ἃς εἶχε βασιλικὰς ἐντολὰς, πάντως ἔλεγεν εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν ἀναληπτέα ταῦτα εἶναι.
13 But Heliodorus, because of the king’s command given him, said that in any case this money must be confiscated for the king’s treasury.
14 Ταξάμενος δὲ ἡμέραν εἰσῄει τὴν περὶ τούτων ἐπίσκεψιν οἰκονομήσων· ἦν δὲ οὐ μικρὰ καθʼ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν ἀγωνία.
14 So having appointed a day, he entered in to direct the inquiry concerning these matters; and there was no small distress throughout the whole city.
15 Οἱ δὲ ἱερεῖς πρὸ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἐν ταῖς ἱερατικαῖς στολαῖς ῥίψαντες ἑαυτοὺς, ἐπεκαλοῦντο εἰς οὐρανὸν τὸν περὶ παραθήκης νομοθετήσαντα τοῖς παρακαταθεμένοις ταῦτα σῶα διαφυλάξαι.
15 The priests, prostrating themselves before the altar in their priestly garments, and called toward heaven upon him who gave the law concerning deposits, that he should preserve these treasures safe for those who had deposited them.
16 Ἦν δὲ ὁρῶντα τὴν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως ἰδέαν, τιτρώσκεσθαι τὴν διάνοιαν· ἡ γὰρ ὄψις καὶ τὸ τῆς χρόας παρηλλαγμένον ἐνέφαινε τὴν κατὰ ψυχὴν ἀγωνίαν.
16 Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was wounded in mind; for his countenance and the change of his color betrayed the distress of his soul.
17 Περιεκέχυτο γὰρ περὶ τὸν ἄνδρα δέος τι καὶ φρικασμὸς σώματος, διʼ ὧν πρόδηλον ἐγένετο τοῖς θεωροῦσι τὸ κατὰ καρδίαν ἐνεστὸς ἄλγος.
17 For a terror and a shuddering of the body had come over the man, by which the pain that was in his heart was plainly shown to those who looked at him.
18 Οἱ δὲ ἐκ τῶν οἰκιῶν ἀγεληδὸν ἐξεπήδων ἐπὶ πάνδημον ἱκετείαν, διὰ τὸ μέλλειν εἰς καταφρόνησιν ἔρχεσθαι τὸν τόπον.
18 Those who were in the houses rushed out in crowds to make a universal supplication, because the place was about to come into dishonor.
19 Ὑπεζωσμέναι δὲ ὑπὸ τοὺς μαστοὺς αἱ γυναῖκες σάκκους κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς ἐπλήθυον· αἱ δὲ κατάκλειστοι τῶν παρθένων, αἱ μὲν συνέτρεχον ἐπὶ τοὺς πυλῶνας, αἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ τείχη, τινὲς δὲ διὰ τῶν θυρίδων διεξέκυπτον.
19 The women, girded with sackcloth under their breasts, thronged the streets. The virgins who were kept indoors ran together, some to the gates, others to the walls, and some looked out through the windows.
20 Πᾶσαι δὲ προτείνουσαι τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανον, ἐποιοῦντο τὴν λιτανείαν·
20 All, stretching out their hands toward heaven, made their solemn supplication.
21 Ἐλεεῖν δʼ ἦν τὴν τοῦ πλήθους παμμιγῆ πρόπτωσιν, τήν τε τοῦ μεγάλως διαγωνιῶντος ἀρχιερέως προσδοκίαν.
21 Then it was pitiful to see the multitude prostrating themselves all mixed together, and the anxiety of the high priest in his great distress.
22 Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐπεκαλοῦντο τὸν παντοκράτορα Θεὸν τὰ πεπιστευμένα τοῖς πεπιστευκόσι σῶα διαφυλάγγειν μετὰ πάσης ἀσφαλείας.
22 While therefore they called upon the Almighty Lord to keep the things entrusted to them safe and secure for those who had entrusted them,
23 Ὁ δὲ Ἡλιόδωρος τὸ διεγνωσμένον ἐπετέλει.
23 Heliodorus went on to execute that which had been decreed.
24 Αὐτόθι δὲ αὐτοῦ σὺν τοῖς δορυφόροις κατὰ τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον ἤδη παρόντος, ὁ τῶν πατέρων Κύριος καὶ πάσης ἐξουσίας δυνάστης ἐπιφάνειαν μεγάλην ἐποίησεν, ὥστε πάντας τοὺς κατατολμήσαντας συνελθεῖν, καταπλαγέντας τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δύναμιν, εἰς ἔκλυσιν καὶ δειλίαν τραπῆναι.
24 But when he was already present there with his guards near the treasury, the Sovereign of spirits and of all authority caused a great manifestation, so that all who had presumed to come with him, stricken with dismay at the power of God, fainted in terror.
25 Ὤφθη γάρ τις ἵππος αὐτοῖς φοβερὸν ἔχων τὸν ἐπιβάτην, καὶ καλλίστῃ σαγῇ διακεκοσμημένος, φερόμενος δὲ ῥύδην ἐνέσεισε τῷ Ἡλιοδώρῳ τὰς ἐμπροσθίους ὁπλάς· ὁ δὲ ἐπικαθήμενος ἐφαίνετο χρυσῆν πανοπλίαν ἔχων.
25 For they saw a horse with a frightening rider, adorned with beautiful trappings, and he rushed fiercely and struck at Heliodorus with his forefeet. It seemed like he who sat on the horse had complete armor of gold.
26 Ἕτεροι δὲ δύο προεφάνησαν αὐτῷ νεανίαι, τῇ ῥώμῃ μὲν ἐκπρεπεῖς, κάλλιστοι δὲ τῇ δόξῃ, διαπρεπεῖς δὲ τὴν περιβολήν· οἳ καὶ παρασταντες ἐξ ἑκατέρου μέρους, ἐμαστίγουν αὐτὸν ἀδιαλείπτως, πολλὰς ἐπιῤῥιπτοῦντες αὐτῷ πληγάς.
26 Two others also appeared to him, young men notable in their strength, and beautiful in their glory, and splendid in their apparel, who stood by him on either side, and scourged him unceasingly, inflicting on him many sore stripes.
27 Ἄφνω δὲ πεσόντα πρὸς τὴν γῆν, καὶ πολλῷ σκότει περιχυθέντα, συναρπάσαντες, καὶ εἰς φορεῖον ἐνθέντες,
27 When he had fallen suddenly to the ground, and great darkness had come over him, his guards picked him up and put him on a stretcher,
28 τὸν ἄρτι μετὰ πολλῆς παραδρομῆς καὶ πάσης δορυφορίας εἰς τὸ προειρημένον εἰσελθόντα γαζοφυλάκιον, ἔφερον ἀβοήθητον ἑαυτῷ καθεστῶτα, φανερῶς τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δυναστείαν ἐπεγνωκότες.
28 and carried him—this man who had just now entered with a great retinue and all his guard into the aforesaid treasury, himself now brought to utter helplessness, manifestly made to recognize the sovereignty of God.
29 Καὶ ὁ μὲν διὰ τὴν θείαν ἐνέργειαν ἄφωνος καὶ πάσης ἐστερημένος ἐλπίδος καὶ σωτηρίας ἔῤῥιπτο.
29 So, while he, through the working of God, speechless and bereft of all hope and deliverance, lay prostrate,
30 Οἱ δὲ τὸν κύριον εὐλόγουν τὸν παραδοξάζοντα τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τόπον· καὶ τὸ μικρῷ πρότερον δέους καὶ ταραχῆς γέμον ἱερὸν, τοῦ παντοκράτορος ἐπιφανέντος Κυρίου, χαρᾶς καὶ εὐφροσύνης ἐπεπλήρωτο.
30 they blessed the Lord who acted marvelously for his own place. The temple, which a little before was full of terror and alarm, was filled with joy and gladness after the Almighty Lord appeared.
31 Ταχὺ δέ τινες τῶν τοῦ Ἡλιοδώρου συνήθων ἠξίουν τὸν Ὀνίαν ἐπικαλέσασθαι τὸν ὕψιστον, καὶ τὸ ζῇν χαρίσασθι τῷ παντελῶς ἐν ἐσχάτῃ πνοῇ κειμένῳ.
31 But quickly some of Heliodorus’s familiar friends implored Onias to call upon the Most High to grant life to him who lay quite at the last gasp.
32 Ὕποπτος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ ἀρχιερεῦς, μήποτε διάληψιν ὁ βασιλεὺς σχῇ, κακουργίαν τινὰ περὶ τὸν Ἡλιόδωρον ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων συντετελέσθαι, προσήγαγε θυσίαν ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ ἀνδρὸς σωτηρίας.
32 The high priest, secretly fearing lest the king might come to think that some treachery toward Heliodorus had been perpetrated by the Jews, brought a sacrifice for the recovery of the man.
33 Ποιουμένου δὲ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως τὸν ἱλασμὸν, οἱ αὐτοὶ νεανίαι πάλιν ἐφάνησαν τῷ Ἡλιοδώρῳ ἐν ταῖς αὐταῖς ἐσθήσεσιν ἐστολισμένοι, καὶ στάντες εἶπον, πολλὰς τῷ Ὀνία τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ χάριτας ἔχε, διὰ γὰρ αὐτὸν σοι κεχάρισται τὸ ζῇν ὁ Κύριος.
33 But as the high priest was making the atoning sacrifice, the same young men appeared again to Heliodorus, arrayed in the same garments. They stood and said, “Give Onias the high priest great thanks, for for his sake the Lord has granted you life.
34 Σὺ δὲ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ μεμαστιγωμένος διάγγελε πᾶσι τὸ μεγαλεῖον τοῦ Θεοῦ κράτος· ταῦτα δὲ εἰπόντες ἀφανεῖς ἐγένοντο.
34 See that you, since you have been scourged from heaven, proclaim to all men the sovereign majesty of God.” When they had spoken these words, they vanished out of sight.
35 Ὁ δὲ Ἡλιόδωρος θυσίαν ἀνενέγκας τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ εὐχὰς μεγίστας εὐξάμενος τῷ τὸ ζῇν περιποιήσαντι, καὶ τὸν Ὀνίαν ἀποδεξάμενος, ἀνεστρατοπέδευσε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα.
35 So Heliodorus, having offered a sacrifice to the Lord and vowed great vows to him who had saved his life, and having bidden Onias farewell, returned with his army to the king.
36 Ἐξεμαρτύρει δὲ πᾶσιν ἅπερ ἦν ὑπʼ ὄψιν τεθεαμένος ἔργα τοῦ μεγίστου Θεοῦ.
36 He testified to all men the works of the greatest God, which he had seen with his eyes.
37 Τοῦ δὲ βασιλέως ἐπερωτήσαντος τὸν Ἡλιόδωρον, ποῖός τις εἴη ἐπιτήδειος ἔτι ἅπαξ διαπεμφθῆναι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, ἔφησεν,
37 When the king asked Heliodorus what sort of man was fit to be sent yet once again to Jerusalem, he said,
38 εἴ τινα ἔχεις πολέμιον ἢ πραγμάτων ἐπίβουλον, πέμψον αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεμαστιγωμένον αὐτὸν προσδέξῃ, ἐάνπερ καὶ διασωθείη, διὰ τὸ περὶ τὸν τόπον ἀληθῶς εἶναί τινα Θεοῦ δύναμιν.
38 “If you have any enemy or conspirator against the state, send him there, and you will receive him back well scourged, if he even escapes with his life; because truly there is some power of God in that place.
39 Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὁ τὴν κατοικίαν ἐπουράνιον ἔχων, ἐπόπτης ἐστὶ καὶ βοηθὸς ἐκείνου τοῦ τόπου, καὶ τοὺς παραγινομένους ἐπὶ κακώσει, τύπτων ἀπόλλυσι.
39 For he who has his dwelling in heaven himself has his eyes on that place and helps it. Those who come to hurt it, he strikes and destroys.”
40 Καὶ τὰ μὲν κατὰ Ἡλιόδωρον, καὶ τὴν τοῦ γαζοφυλακίου τήρησιν οὕτως ἐχώρησεν.
40 This was the history of Heliodorus and the keeping of the treasury.