1
The tyrant Antiochus, sitting in state with his counselors on a certain high place, and with his armed soldiers standing around 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
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,
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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.
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When nature has granted it to us, why should you abhor eating the very excellent meat of this animal?
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It is senseless not to enjoy delicious things that are not shameful, and wrong to spurn the gifts of nature.
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It seems to me that you will do something even more senseless if, by holding a vain opinion concerning the truth, you continue to despise me to your own hurt.
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Will you not awaken from your foolish philosophy, dispel your futile reasonings, adopt a mind appropriate to your years, philosophize according to the truth of what is beneficial,