Antiochus Wants To Destroy the Jewish Way of Life

1It was not long before King Antiochus sent Geron of Athens to our nation with the following orders:

Force the Jews to give up the Law of their God and their ancient customs. 2Make the temple in Jerusalem unfit as a place to worship their God by turning it into a temple for Zeus of Olympus. Then name the temple on Mount Gerizim, "The Temple for Zeus Who Welcomes Strangers," since that is what it was earlier called by the people who live there.

3After this, those foreigners abused our people so cruelly that we almost lost hope. 4They held wild parties and did other disgusting things in the temple, such as having sex with prostitutes and setting up vulgar idols. 5Even our altar was piled high with unclean sacrifices that were forbidden by our Law. 6It became a crime to worship on the Sabbath, or to celebrate our ancient festivals, or even to admit that you were a Jew.

7 Each month, the foreigners celebrated the king's birthday. And during the ceremony they cruelly forced our people to eat the insides of sacrificed animals. Besides this, they made us wear sprigs of ivy in our hair and walk in parades whenever they celebrated a festival to honor the god Dionysus.

8About this time, the citizens of Ptolemais suggested that the same law be made for some nearby Greek towns, and it was done. The law required these towns to force Jews to eat the meat of sacrifices. 9Death would be the penalty for refusing to live like a Greek.

Our people now realized that a time of dreadful suffering had arrived. 10 For example, some soldiers arrested two Jewish mothers whose baby boys had been circumcised. They hung each child from its mother's breasts, then led the women in broad daylight through the town, before throwing them from the city wall.

11 One Sabbath a group of Jews gathered secretly to worship in caves not far from Jerusalem. But someone informed Philip the governor, who then had everyone burned alive. These Jews respected this most holy day so much, that they did not even try to defend themselves.

Why God Punishes the Jews

12My dear readers, please don't be depressed by these sad stories. Remember that these sufferings were not to destroy us, but to instruct us.

13In fact, God shows his kindness by punishing sinners as soon as they disobey him, rather than waiting until later. 14When God deals with other nations, he waits patiently for them to sin terribly before he punishes them. But God treats us differently. 15He punishes us right away--before our sins are too great.

16Our God never stops being kind to us, his chosen people. He lets our sufferings teach us to do right, but he never deserts us. 17I have said these things to remind you of God's way of dealing with us. Now back to my story.

The Death of Eleazar

18 Eleazar was an elderly gentleman and a highly respected teacher of the Law. One day some men forced his mouth open and tried to make him eat the meat of a pig. 19Eleazar chose to die with honor rather than to live with shame. So he willingly walked to the place of torture, spitting out the meat as he went. 20This is a fine example of courage for everyone who is willing to refuse unclean food, even if it means death.

21 The men in charge of the lawless sacrifice had known Eleazar for a long time. So they took him aside and said to him in private:

Get some meat that your religion says can be eaten. Then pretend you are eating meat from the pig that the king ordered us to sacrifice. 22Do this, and you won't be killed. We have been friends for a long time, so let us do this favor for you.

23But Eleazar did the only honorable thing a man of his age and reputation could do. He firmly made up his mind to obey God's Law, just as he had always done. And so he immediately said:

Kill me here and now! 24It would be disgraceful for someone my age to pretend to eat unlawful food. Our young people would think that I had given up my Jewish faith after 90 years. 25I might live a little longer, but I would cause our young people to deny their faith, and I would end up a shameful, disgusting old man.

26I might escape torture at the hands of humans for now, but even when I am dead, I cannot escape from God All-Powerful!

27By dying bravely I can prove that I was worthy of the long life that God has given me. 28And my death will set a good example for our young people--it will show them that we should not be afraid to die for our sacred laws.

When Eleazar had finished speaking, he walked straight to the place of torture. 29But the same men who had earlier been kind to him now sneered, because they thought he was talking nonsense.

30When Eleazar had been beaten almost to the point of death, he groaned and shouted, "The Lord God knows everything! He knows I could have escaped this terrible torture and death, but I have gladly suffered for him, because I honor him with all my heart and soul."

31Eleazar's brave and honorable death set an example for our whole nation, and especially for our young people.