Did Heliodoros Try to Rob the Treasures of the Jerusalem Temple? Date and Probability of the Story of II Maccabees, 3

Full title
Did Heliodoros Try to Rob the Treasures of the Jerusalem Temple? Date and Probability of the Story of II Maccabees, 3
Updated By
Research notes

Not Checked|08/11/2011|OA||reader checked|16/07/2014 SE

Reference type
Author(s)
Rappaport, Uriel
Year
2011
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
Revue des Études Juives
Volume
170
Issue / Series Volume
1-2
Pages
3-19
Work type
Label
28/11/2011
Abstract

A recently published stele that was discovered in Marissa contains a decree (prostagma) of the king Seleucus IV concerning reorganization of the administration of the temples in Koilê Syria (Syria) kai (and) Phoinikê (Phoenicia). It brought up some new data and considerations to the issue of the Story of Heliodorus, who according to the book of Second Maccabees, ch. 3 tried to rob the treasures of the Jerusalem Temple. Relying on new data supplied by the decree it is suggested below that Heliodoros did not participate in this event but was introduced into the story in place of another, less known, Seleucid official and that the story was written and embellished among supporters of the Oniad family in Egypt.

Primary Texts: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha
Composition / Author
Passage
3