CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM CHAPTER NINE OF THE THIRD BOOK OF MACCABAEES
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE
FOURTH BOOK
OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
REFLECTIONS ON RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE: LIKEWISE, AN ACCOUNT OF HELIODORUS’ ATTEMPT TO PLUNDER THE TEMPLE: AND THE HISTORY OF ELEAZAR AND THE SEVEN BRETHREN PERSECUTED EVEN TO DEATH FOR THEIR ADHERENCE TO RELIGION.
CHAPTER V
B.C. 167
Eleazar brought forward. His eloquent address to the king.
The tyrant Antiochus a, sitting in state with his attendants on a certain elevated spot, and his armed troops standing round them on every side; —commanded his guards to seize every individual of the Hebrews, and to compel him to taste swine’s flesh b, and things offered to idols c and if any persons refused to eat this unclean food, they should be tortured to death upon the wheel.
And when, many had been seized, a Hebrew named Eleazar, a chief man among the people, by family a priest, by profession a lawyer d, and advanced in years, and from his age known to many of those about the king, was brought out near to him. And Antiochus seeing him, said; ” Old man, I would advise you, before your torments begin, to eat of the swine’s flesh and save your life: for I respect your age and grey hairs; which, although you have had for so long a time, you do not seem to me to understand philosophy, since you adhere to the superstition of the Jews. For why, since nature has freely given you the excellent food of this animal’s flesh, do you abhor it? For truly it is absurd not to enjoy things which are agreeable, without conveying any disgrace; and unjust to turn our selves away from the favours of nature. But you seem to me likely to do a thing still more senseless, if, from a vein affectation of following Truth, you will further proceed to hold me in contempt, to your own punishment. Will”
” you not wake up from this foolish philosophy of yours? And will you not chase away the deception of your reasonings; and, having regained a mind worthy of your years, follow a philosophy which unites expediency with truth? and, receiving thankfully my benevolent exhortation, have pity on your old age? For consider this also; that, if there be any Power which watches over this your religious system, it would pardon you for every transgression of the law which was committed through compulsion.
While the tyrant in this manner exhorted him to the unallowed eating of flesh, Eleazar requested leave e to speak. And having received permission, he commenced publicly addressing the people thus:
” We, O Antiochus, who are persuaded that we conduct ourselves agreeably to a divine law, think no duty more imperative than that of a full obedience f to our law. On which account we deem it wrong to offend against it in any manner. And yet, even if our law were not in truth divine, as you imagine, (but we on the contrary hold it to be divine,) not even in that case would it be lawful for us to annul that character which we have for piety. Do no”
” think therefore, that this is a small offence, if we should eat of things which are unclean. For to transgress in small matters or in great is equal in guilt; for by each of these the law is equally holdened at nought.
And you deride our philosophy, as though we live in it without good reason for so doing. Yet it thoroughly teaches us temperance, so that we master all the pleasures and desires: and it exercises us in fortitude, so that we willingly undergo every toil g : and it instructs us in justice, so that in all our behaviour we give what is due: and it teaches us to be pious, so that we worship the only living God in a manner becoming his greatness. Wherefore we eat not unclean meats: for, believing that the law was constituted by God, we know that the Creator of the world sympathizes with our nature in the framing of his laws. And those things which will suit our natures he has permitted us to eat; but the meats which would prove the contrary, he has for bidden us to use. But you, tyrannically, not only force us to transgress the law, but also to eat, that you may still further have to laugh at this eating of unclean things which is most odious to us. But”
” this laughter you never shall enjoy against me, nor will I violate the sacred oaths of my forefathers concerning the keeping of the law. Not even if you pluck out my eyes and consume my entrails in the fire. I am not so old and devoid of spirit, but that my principle is still vigorous in religion’s cause. Against this, prepare your racks, and kindle the fire still more fiercely f. I will not so far compassionate my old age, as for my own individual sake to pull down the law of my country. I will not fail thee, O law, ray instructor! I will not forsake thee, O beloved self-control! Nor will I share thee, O philosophic reason! nor will I renounce thee, O honored priesthood and science of the law! Nor shall you pollute my reverend mouth in old age, nor the advanced years of a life passed in obedience’ h to the law. My fathers shall receive me pure, not having been afraid of your violence even unto death. For indeed over the ungodly you will tyrannize but over my religious principles you shall not obtain dominion, neither by your arguments nor your deeds.”
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