2 Maccabees 6
1 The Jews are compelled to leave the Law of God. 4 The Temple is defiled. 10 The women cruelly punished. 28 The grievous pain of Eleazarus.
NOT long after this, sent the King an old man of Athens, for to compel the Jews, to transgress the Laws of the fathers, and not to be governed by the Law of God,
And to defile the Temple that was at Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius, and that of Garizin, according as they did that dwelt at that place, Jupiter, that keep hospitality.
This wicked government was sore and grievous to the people.
For the Temple was full of dissolution, and gluttony of the Gentiles, which dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and brought in such things as were not lawful.
The altar also was full of such things, as were abominable and forbidden by the Law.
Neither was it lawful to keep the Sabbaths, nor to observe their ancient feasts, not plainly to confess himself to be a Jew.
In the day of the King’s birth they were grievously compelled parforce [to compel]* every month to banket, and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were constrained to go in the procession of Bacchus with garlands of yule.
Moreover through the consel of Ptolemeus, there went out a commandment unto the next cities of the heathen against the Jews, that the like custom, and banketing [banquet]* should be kept.
And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then might a man have seen the present misery.
For there were two women brought forth, that had circumcised their sons, whom when they had led round about the city (the babes hanging at their breasts) they cast them down headlong over the walls.
Some that were run together into dens to keep the Sabbath day secretly, were discovered unto Philippe, and were burnt together, because that for the reverence of the honorable day they were afraid to help themselves.
Now I beseech those which read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge these afflictions, not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.
For it is a token of his great goodness not to suffer sinners long to continue, but straight ways to punish them.
For the Lord doth not long wait for us, as for other nations, whom he punishes when they are come to the fullness of their sins.
But thus he deals with us, that our sins should not be heaped up to the full, so that afterward he should punish us.
And therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.
But let his be spoken now for a warning unto us: and now will we come to the declaring of the matter in few words.
Eleazar then one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favored countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine’s flesh.
But he desiring rather to die gloriously than to live with hatred, offered himself willingly to the torment, and spit it out.
As they ought to go to death which suffer punishment for such things, as it is not lawful to cast off for the desire to live.
But they that had the charge of his wicked banket, for that old friendship of the man, took him aside privately, and prayed him, that he would take such flesh, as was lawful for him to use, and as he would prepare for himself, and dissemble as though he had eaten of the things appointed by the King, even the flesh of the sacrifice,
That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and that for the old friendship that was among them, he would receive this favor.
But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellencies of his ancient years, and the honor of his gray hairs, whereunto he was come, and his most honest conversation from his childhood, but chiefly the holy Law made and given by God: therefore he answered consequently, and willed them straight says to send him to the grave.
For it becomes not our age, said he, to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think, that Eleazar being four score year old and ten were now gone to another religion,
And so through mine hypocrisy (for a little time of a transitory life) they might be deceived by me, and I should procure malediction, and reproach to mine old age.
For though I were now delivered from the torments of men, yet could I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive nor dead.
Wherefore I will now change this life manfully, and will show myself such as mine age requires,
And so will leave a notable example for such as be young, to die willingly and courageously for the honorable and holy Laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to torment.
Now they that led him, changed the love which they bare him before, into hatred, because of the words that he had spoken: for they thought it had been a rage.
And as he was ready to give the ghost because of the strokes, and sighed and said, The Lord that hath the holy knowledge, knows manifestly, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I am scourged and suffer these sore pains of my body: but in my mind I suffer them gladly for his religion.
Even now after this manner ended he his life, leaving his death for an example of a noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.
*WP4Y
warriorprincess4yeshua.blog 