24
"It's not worthy of our old age to act out such a role. Otherwise, many of the young would assume wrongly that Eleazar the 90-year-old had changed to a foreign way of life.
25
If I acted out this charade for the sake of living a moment longer, I would mislead them, and I would be defiled and dishonored in my old age.
26
Even if I escaped the punishment of human beings for the moment, I would certainly not escape the hands of the almighty—whether alive or dead.
27
So I give up my life courageously now to show myself worthy of my old age,
28
and to leave a fine example for the young people of how to die a good death with eagerness and dignity for the revered and sacred laws." After he spoke he immediately approached the torture instrument.