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2 Machabees
6
But not long after the king sent a certain old man of
Antioch, to compel the Jews to depart from the laws
of their fathers and of God:
And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and
to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that
in Gazarim of Jupiter Hospitalis, according as they
were that inhabited the place.
And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous
to all.
For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of
the Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And
women thrust themselves of their accord into the holy
places, and brought in things that were not lawful.
The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which
were forbidden by the laws.
And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days
of the fathers observed, neither did any man plainly
profess himself to be a Jew.
But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's
birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus
was kept, they wore compelled to go about crowned with
ivy in honour of Bacchus.
And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities
of the Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans,
that they also should act in like manner against the
Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice:
And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways
of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery
to be seen.
For two women were accused to have circumcised their
children: whom, when they had openly led about through
the city with the infants hanging at their breasts,
they threw down headlong from the walls.
And others that had met together in caves that were
near, and were keeping the sabbath day privately, being
discovered by Philip, were burnt with fire, because
they made a conscience to help themselves with their
hands, by reason of the religious observance of the
day.
Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that
they be not shocked at these calamities, but that they
consider the things that happened, not as being for
the destruction, but for the correction of our nation.
For it is a token of great goodness when sinners are
not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time,
but are presently punished.
For, not as with other nations (whom the Lord patiently
expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come,
he may punish them in the fulness of their sins:)
Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins
to come to their height, and then take vengeance on
us.
And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us:
but though he chastise his people with adversity, he
forsaketh them not.
But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to
the readers. And now we must come to the narration.
Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced
in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to
open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.
But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a
hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.
And considering in what manner he was come to ii;, patiently
bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things
for the love of life.
But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity,
for the old friendship they had with the man, taking
him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which
it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as
if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh
of the sacrifice:
That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and
for the sake of their old friendship with the man they
did him this courtesy.
But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and
his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey
head, and his good life and conversation from a child:
and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances
of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather
be sent into the other world.
For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble:
whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar,
at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over
to the life of the heathens:
And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little
time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, end
hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old
age.
For though, for the present time, I should be delivered
from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape
the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.
Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I
shall shew myself worthy of my old age:
And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men,
if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable
death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And
having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.
And they that led him, and had been a little before
more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had
spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.
But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he
groaned, and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge,
thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered
from death, I suffer grevious pains in body: but in
soul am well content to suffer these things be- cause
I fear thee.
Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men,
but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death
for an example of virtue and fortitude. |
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