1
The tyrant Antiochus, sitting in state with his counselors on a certain high place, and with his armed soldiers standing about him,
2
ordered the guards to seize each and every Hebrew and to compel them to eat pork and food sacrificed to idols.
3
If any were not willing to eat defiling food, they were to be broken on the wheel and killed.
4
And when many persons had been rounded up, one man, Eleazar by name, leader of the flock, was brought before the king. He was a man of priestly family, learned in the law, advanced in age, and known to many in the tyrant's court because of his philosophy.
5
When Antiochus saw him he said,
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"Before I begin to torture you, old man, I would advise you to save yourself by eating pork,
7
for I respect your age and your gray hairs. Although you have had them for so long a time, it does not seem to me that you are a philosopher when you observe the religion of the Jews.
8
Why, when nature has granted it to us, should you abhor eating the very excellent meat of this animal?