16
So the Lord is always merciful to us, his own people. Although he punishes us with disasters, he never abandons us.
17
I have made these few observations by way of reminder. We will now get on with the story.
18
There was an elderly and highly respected teacher of the Law by the name of Eleazar, whose mouth was being forced open to make him eat pork.
1
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But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives.
21
Those in charge of the sacrifice had been friends of Eleazar for a long time, and because of this friendship they told him privately to bring meat that was lawful for him to eat. He need only pretend to eat the pork, they said, and in this way he would not be put to death.
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But Eleazar made a decision worthy of his gray hair and advanced age. All his life he had lived in perfect obedience to God's holy laws, so he replied, "Kill me, here and now.
24
Such deception is not worthy of a man of my years. Many young people would think that I had denied my faith after I was ninety years old.
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If I pretended to eat this meat, just to live a little while longer, it would bring shame and disgrace on me and lead many young people astray.
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For the present I might be able to escape what you could do to me, but whether I live or die, I cannot escape Almighty God.