Heliodorus Is Sent by King Seleucus IV to Raid the Temple Treasure
A 2,200-year-old stele provides context to the dramatic story of Heliodorus' attempted raid of the Temple in Jerusalem, as related in the Second Book of Maccabees. The stele documents correspondence in ancient Greek between Heliodorus and King Seleucus IV, son of Antiochus III and later succeeded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In his letter, the King appoints an administrator to oversee the sanctuaries under his rule, including authority over the sanctuaries’ revenues and taxes due to the king. According to the book of Maccabees Heliodorus didn't succeed in raiding the temple, nor does the Stele confirm it.
2 Maccabees 3:7
The king (Seleucus IV) chose his chief minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to seize those riches (of the Temple).
The Stele reads:
“King Seleukos to Heliodorus his brother, greetings… since the affairs in Koile Syria [or Judea]… stand in need of appointing someone...”
The Jews likely regarded this appointment as an infringement of Jewish religious autonomy foreshadowing events yet to come.
Heliodorus Stele
Israel Antiquities Authority / The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
\Yael Yעברית: יעל י, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Seleucids’ treasury was depleted from wars with the Romans. Seleucus IV, the son of Antiochus III, ordered Heliodorus to raid the Treasury of the Temple. This event is confirmed by the Heliodorus Stele.
2 Maccabees 3:7
The king (Seleucus IV) chose his chief minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to seize those riches (of the Temple).
Heliodorus Stele, Inscribed in Greek, discovered in Israel, 178 BCE
“King Seleukos to Heliodorus his brother greetings… since the affairs in Koile Syria [Judea]… stand in need of appointing someone...”
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