GAZOFILA-CIO (*Götzyda-kron*). — From *yā'zā* (cf. *Acts 8:27*; which in Persian means *treasure*) and *gulāsezin* (= *custodian*): in the Septuagint, in the Gospels, in Josephus Flavius and Strabo, it denotes the place where the treasure of the temple of Jerusalem was kept and, by metonymy, the treasure itself.
The treasure of the sanctuary, established by Moses, augmented by gifts from the faithful and sovereigns, underwent various vicissitudes and spoliations (*Exod. 30:11-15, 21; 38:25-26; I Macc. 1:21-24; II Macc. 3:5, 21*).
In the temple restored by Herod the Great, the *gazofilacio* was to be found in rooms to the right of the women’s court. According to the Talmud, in the *gazofilacio* there were thirteen trumpet-shaped chests (*šōphārōth*) with funnel-shaped openings at the top, into which the faithful cast their offerings.
Jesus taught in the *gazofilacio*, that is, in its vicinity (*John 8:20*). He observed the widow who cast into the *gazofilacio* two small coins (*leptē*) that were all she possessed, in contrast to the vainglorious rich who cast in much but only from their surplus (*Matt. 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4*).