22
that in so doing he might be delivered from death and, because of the old friendship, find favor with them.
23
But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honor of his gray head to which he had come, and his most honest education as a child, or rather, the holy law made and given by God therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightway to send him to the grave.
24
"For it becometh not our age," said he, "in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, had now gone to a strange religion.
25
And so they, through mine hypocrisy and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain upon mine old age and make it abominable.
26
For though for the present time I would be delivered from the punishment of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive nor dead.
27
Therefore now, manfully exchanging this life, I will show myself such a one as mine age requireth,
28
and leave a notable example to such as are young, to die willingly and courageously for the honorable and holy laws." And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment.
29
And those who led him changed the good will they bore him a little before into hatred, because the aforesaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.
30
But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned and said, "It is manifest unto the Lord, who hath the holy knowledge, that whereas I might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten, but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I fear Him."
31
And thus this man died, leaving his death as an example of a noble courage and a memorial of virtue not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.