THE SECOND BOOK OF MACCABEES 7

2 Maccabees 7

The punishment of the seven brethren and of their mother.

IT came to pass also that seven brethren, with their mother, were taken to be compelled by the King against the Law, to taste swine’s flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.

But one of them, which spake first, said thus, What seekest thou? and what would you know of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the Laws of our fathers.

Then was the King angry, and commanded to heat pans and cauldrons, which were incontinently made hot.

And he commanded the tongue of him that spake first, to be cut out, and to slay him and to cut off the utmost parts of his body in the sight of his other brethren and his mother.

Now when he was thus mangled in all his members, he commanded him to be brought alive to the fire and to fry him in the pan: and while the smoke for a long time smoked out of the pan, the other brethren with their mother, exhorted one another to die courageously, saying in this manner,

The Lord God doth regard us, and indeed takes pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the song wherein he testified openly, saying,

That God will take pleasure in his servants.

So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled the skin with the hair over his head, they asked him, if he would eat, or he were punished in all the members of the body.

But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he was tormented forth with like the first.

And when he was at the last breath, he said, Thou murderer take this present life from us, but the King of the world will raise us up, which die for his Laws, in the resurrection of everlasting life.

After him was the third had in derision, and when they demanded his tongue, he put it our incontinently, and stretched forth his hands boldly,

And spake manfully, These have I had from the heaven, but now for the Law of God, I despise them, and trust that I shall receive them of him again.

Insomuch that the King and they which were with him, marveled at the young man’s courage, as at one that nothing regarded the pains.

Now when he was dead also, they vexed and tormented the fourth in like manner.

And when he was now ready to die, he said thus, It is better that we should change this which we might hope for of men, and wait for our hope from God, that we may be raised up again by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.

Afterward they brought the fifth also and tormented him,

Who looked upon the King, and said, Thou hast power among men, and though thou be a mortal man, thou doest what thou wilt: but think not, that God hath forsaken our nation.

But abide a while, and thou shalt see his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed.

After him also they brought the sixth, who being at the point of death, said, Deceive not thyself foolishly: for we suffer these things, which are worthy to be wondered at for our own sakes, because we have offended our God.

But think not thou, which undertake to fight against God, that thou shalt be unpunished.

But the mother was marvelous above all other, and worthy of honorable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she suffered it with a good will, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.

Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, and being full of courage and wisdom, stirred up her womanly affections with a manly stomach, and said unto them,

I cannot tell how ye come into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life: it is not I that set in order the members of your body,

But doubtless the Creator of the world, which formed the birth of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own selves, for his Law’s sake.

Now Antiochus thinking himself despised, and considering the injurious words, while the youngest was yet alive, he did exhort him not only with words, but swore also unto him by an oath that he would make him rich and wealthy, if he would forsake the Laws of his fathers, and that he would take him as a friend, and give him offices.

But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the King called his mother, and exhorted that she would counsel the young men to save his life.

And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.

So she turned her unto him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, and spake in her own language, O my son, have pity upon me, that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, and took care for thee unto this age, and brought thee up.

I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the eearth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not, and so was mankind made likewise.

Fear not this hangman, but show thyself worthy such brethren by suffering death, that I may receive thee in mercy with thy brethren.

While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the King’s commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the Law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.

And thou that imagine all mischief against the Hebrews, shall not escape the hand of God.

For we suffer these things, because of our sins,

But though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet will he be reconciled with his own servants.

But thou, o man without religion and most wicked of all men, lift not thyself up in vain, which are puffed up with uncertain hope, and lift thine hands against the servants of God.

For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of almighty God, which sees all things.

My brethren that have suffered a little pain, are now under the divine covenant of everlasting life: but thou through the judgment of God, shalt suffer just punishments for thy pride.

Therefore I, as my brethren have done, offer my body and life for the Laws of our fathers, beseeching God, that he will soon be merciful unto our nation, and that thou by torment and punishment may confess, that he is the only God,

And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is righteously fallen upon all our nation, may cease.

Then the King being kindled with anger, raged more cruelly against him then the others, and took it grieviously, that he was mocked.

So he also died holy, and put his whole trust in the Lord.

Last of all after the sons, was the mother put to death.

Let this now be enough spoken concerning the bankets, and extreme cruelties.