VI. Not long after this the king sent an old man of * Athens to compel the Jews ato depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to blive after the laws of God: 2 and cto pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in dGarizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, * as they did desire that dwelt in the place. 3 The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people: 4 for the temple was filled with eriot and frevelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that, brought in things that were not glawful. 5 hThe altar also was filled with profane things, which the law iforbiddeth. 6 Neither was it lawful for a man jto keep sabbath days or ancient feasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew. 7 And in the day of the king’s birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to keat of the sacrifices; and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to kkBacchus, carrying ivy. 8 Moreover lthere went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the * heathen, by the suggestion of mPtolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same nfashions, and kbe partakers of their sacrifices: 9 and owhoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery. 10 For pthere were two women brought, pwho had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes hanging at their breasts, they cast them qdown headlong qfrom the wall. 11 And others, that had run together into rcaves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered to sPhilip, were all burnt together, because tthey made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.

12 Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not udiscouraged for these calamities, vbut that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation. 13 For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished. 14 For not as with other nations, whom wthe Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, xtill they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us, 15 lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us. 16 And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and ythough he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people. 17 But let this that we have spoken be for a zwarning unto us. And now will we come to the adeclaring of the matter in few words.

18 * Eleazar, one of the principal bscribes, bban aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and cto eat swine’s flesh. 19 But he, dchoosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to ethe torment, 20 as it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted. 21 But they that had the charge of that wicked ffeast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was glawful for him to use, and hmake as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king; 22 that in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favour. 23 But he began to consider idiscreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereunto he was come, and his most honest keducation from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave. 24 For it becometh not our age, lsaid he, in any wise to hdissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being mfourscore years old and ten, were now gone to na strange religion; 25 and so they through mine hhypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable. 26 For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the nnAlmighty, neither alive, nor dead. 27 Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such a one as mine age requireth, 28 and leave a onotable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to ethe torment: 29 they that led him changing pthe good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from * a desperate mind. 30 But when he was ready to die with stripes, he rgroaned, and said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear him. 31 And thus this man died, leaving his death for an oexample of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.