The Second Book of Maccabees

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

Antiochus commands the law to be abolished, sets up an idol in the temple, and persecutes the faithful. The martyrdom of Eleazar.

Not long after this, the king sent out (a)an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and not to live by the laws of God,

and also to pollute the sanctuary in Jerusalem and to call it by the name of Olympian Zeus, and to call the sanctuary in Gerizim by the name of Zeus the Protector of foreigners, even as the people who lived in that place did.

The visitation of this evil was harsh and utterly grievous.

For the temple was filled with debauchery and reveling by the heathen, who (b) dallied with prostitutes, and had intercourse with women within the sacred precincts, and moreover brought inside things that were not appropriate.

The altar was filled with those abominable things which had been prohibited by the laws.

A man could neither keep the Sabbath, nor observe the feasts of their ancestors, nor so much as confess himself to be a Jew.

On the day of the king’s birth every month, they were led along with bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices. When the feast of Dionysia came, they were compelled to go in procession in honor of Dionysus, wearing wreaths of ivy.

A decree went out to the neighboring Greek cities, by the suggestion of Ptolemy, that they should observe the same conduct against the Jews, and should make them eat of the sacrifices,

and that they should kill those who didn’t choose to go over to the Greek rites. So the present misery was for all to see.

For example, two women were brought in for having circumcised their children. These, when they had led them publicly around the city with the babes hung from their breasts, they threw down headlong from the wall.

Others who had run together into the caves nearby to keep the seventh day secretly, were betrayed to Philip and were all burned together, because their piety kept them from defending themselves, in view of the honor of that most solemn day.

I urge those who read this book to not be discouraged because of the calamities, but recognize that these punishments were not for the destruction, but for the chastening of our race.

For indeed it is a sign of great kindness that those who act impiously are not let alone for a long time, but immediately meet with retribution.

For in the case of the other nations, the Sovereign Lord waits patiently to punish them until they have attained to the full measure of their sins; but not with us,

that he may not take vengeance on us afterward,(c) when we have come to the(d) height of our sins.

Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us; but though he chastens with calamity, he doesn’t forsake his own people.

However let this that we have spoken suffice to remind you; but after a few words, we must come to the narrative.

Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, a man already well advanced in years, and of a noble countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine’s flesh.

But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with defilement, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture, but first spat out the flesh,

as men ought to come who are resolute to repel such things as not even for the natural love of life is it lawful to taste.

But those who had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was proper for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king;

that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and so his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly.

But he, having formed a high resolve, and one that became his years, the dignity of old age, and the gray hairs(e) which he had reached with honor, and his excellent(f) education from a child, or rather the holy laws(g) of God’s ordaining, declared his mind accordingly, bidding them to quickly send him to Hades.

“For it doesn’t become our years to dissemble,” he said, “that many of the young should suppose that Eleazar, the man of ninety years, had gone over to an alien religion;

and so they, by reason of my deception, and for the sake of this brief and momentary life, would be led astray because of me, and I defile and disgrace myself in my old age.

For even if for the present time I would remove from me the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die, I wouldn’t escape the hands of the Almighty.

Therefore, by bravely parting with my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age,

and (h)leave behind a noble example to the young to die willingly and nobly a glorious death for the revered and holy laws.” When he had said these words, he went immediately to the instrument of torture.

(i) When they changed the good will they bore toward him a little before into ill will because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness,

and when he was at the point to die with the(j) blows, he groaned aloud and said, “To the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, it is manifest that, while I might have been delivered from death, I endure severe pains in my body by being scourged; but in soul I gladly suffer these things because of my fear of him.”

So this man also died like this, leaving his death for an example of nobleness and a memorial of virtue, not only to the young but also to the great body of his nation.

Footnotes

(a)6:1 Or, Geron an Athenian

(b)6:4 Or, idled with their fellows

(d)6:15 Gr. end.

(e)6:23 The Greek text appears to be corrupt.

(f)6:23 Some authorities read manner of life.

(g)6:23 Gr. legislation.

(h)6:28 Gr. one that has left behind.

(i)6:29 The Greek text of this verse is uncertain.

(j)6:30 Or, blows

Antiochus commands the law to be abolished, sets up an idol in the temple, and persecutes the faithful. The martyrdom of Eleazar.

Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:

And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.

The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:

For the temple was filled with riot and revelling 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 lawful.

The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbiddeth.

Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.

And in the day of the king’s birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.

Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:

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, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.

And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.

Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.

For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.

For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,

Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.

And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.

But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words.

Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine’s flesh.

But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,

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.

But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;

That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find favour.

But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education 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.

For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;

And so they through mine hypocrisy, 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.

For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.

Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth,

And leave a notable 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 the torment:

They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.

But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, 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.

And thus this man died, 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.