17. Fear and trembling seized the man, making the grief lodged in his heart clear to observers.
18. People burst from their houses in crowds to plead for help because the temple was about to be dishonored.
19. With mourning clothes wrapped beneath their breasts, women filled the streets. The virgins, who usually remained indoors, ran together to the gates and some to the walls, while others peeped through their windows.
20. But all raised up their hands to heaven and pleaded for help.
21. To see the whole crowd on its knees and faces and the great suffering and dread of the high priest was a pitiful sight.
22. So they called on the almighty Lord to protect the deposits for those who had entrusted them.
23. But Heliodorus carried on with what had been decided.
24. When he and his spearmen approached the treasury, however, the ruler of all spirits and all authority made an awesome display, so that all those daring to come with Heliodorus fainted, terrified and awestruck by God’s power.
25. A horse appeared to them with a fearsome rider and decked out with a beautiful saddle. While running furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hooves. The rider appeared to be clothed in full body armor made of gold.
26. Two young men also appeared before him—unmatched in bodily strength, of superb beauty, and with magnificent robes. They stood on either side of Heliodorus and beat him continuously with many blows.
27. When he suddenly fell to the ground unconscious, his men grasped him and placed him on a stretcher.
28. This was the same man who had just entered the treasury with a large group of men and a full bodyguard. Now they carried him away helpless, despite his weapons, and they publicly acknowledged God’s power.
29. While he was being cut down and left speechless through the divine power and deprived of all hope of recovery,
30. the people were praising the Lord for acting miraculously on behalf of his holy place. And the temple, which had been weighed down with fear and disturbance a short time earlier, was now filled with delight and joy because the almighty Lord had publicly appeared.
31. Some of Heliodorus’ companions rushed to ask Onias to pray to the Most High to give life to the one who was about to draw his last breath.