4 Maccabees 5:1-13

Antiochus challenges Eleazar

1 The tyrant Antiochus was sitting in a high place surrounded by his advisors and armed guards.
2 He ordered his soldiers to bring the Hebrews forward one by one and to force them to eat pork and meat from animals sacrificed to idols.
3 If anyone refused to eat the forbidden meat, they were supposed to be tortured to death by being stretched on a wheel.
4 When they rounded up many people, the guards dragged Eleazar forward as the first from the herd to stand in front of the king. He was a man from a priestly family, a legal expert, and quite old. He was known to many in the tyrant's court because he had been around for so long.
5 Antiochus looked at him and said,
6 "Old man, before I begin to have you tortured, I would advise you to eat the pork and save yourself.
7 I respect your old age. Even though you have had gray hair for a long time, you don't seem to have a mature understanding of things, since you observe the Jewish religion.
8 Why are you disgusted by eating this animal's delicious meat? It's a gift that nature has given to us.
9 It's stupid not to enjoy pleasant things that aren't shameful, and it's wrong to refuse nature's gifts.
10 I will think that you are even more stupid if you continue to disobey me to your own disadvantage for the sake of your brainless ideas about the truth.
11 Come on! Wake up from your silly philosophy, and get rid of your brainless thinking! Adopt an attitude that is more appropriate for a mature person, and adopt a philosophy that is to your advantage!
12 Take pity on your old age, and respect my generous advice.
13 Think about this: if there is some power watching over you and your religion, it will excuse you for any action against the Law if you are compelled to do it."
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