Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HELIODORUS

(Gk. Hēliodōros)

An official of the Seleucid court who was sent by Seleucus IV to confiscate money from the Jerusalem temple after a Jew named Simon informed Apollonius, the governor of Coele-Syria, that the temple held great wealth (2 Macc. 3). Simon’s action resulted from a long rivalry between two Jewish clans. Simon, a Tobiad, thought that providing the Seleucids with information might help him prevail over the high priest Onias III. Further, Simon could deal a blow to a “renegade” family member, Hyrcanus, whom the Oniads had supported and who had considerable wealth deposited in the temple. Heliodorus’ approach threw the whole city into mourning and prayer. As he neared the treasury, a heavenly horse and rider struck him and two men scourged him. Worried that Seleucus might wrongly think that the Jews had attacked Heliodorus, Onias III offered up a sacrifice to save the man’s life. Heliodorus then made a sacrifice to God and returned home without the money.

Rodney A. Werline

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

HELIODORUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)