2Mac 6:1 

Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to 

compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and 

not to live after the laws of God: 

2Mac 6:2 

And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it 

the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter 

the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the 

place. 

2Mac 6:3 

The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the 

people: 

2Mac 6:4 

For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the 

Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women 

within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought 

in things that were not lawful. 

2Mac 6:5 

The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law 

forbiddeth. 

2Mac 6:6 

Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or 

ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew. 

2Mac 6:7 

And in the day of the king's birth every month they were 

brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when 

the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in 

procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy. 

2Mac 6:8 

Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of 

the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, 

that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of 

their sacrifices: 

2Mac 6:9 

And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the 

Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the 

present misery. 

2Mac 6:10 

For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their 

children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, 

the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong 

from the wall. 

2Mac 6:11 

And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep 

the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all 

burnt together, because they made a conscience to help 

themselves for the honour of the most sacred day. 

2Mac 6:12 

Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not 

discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those 

punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of 

our nation. 

2Mac 6:13 

For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers 

are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished. 

2Mac 6:14 

For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently 

forbeareth to punish, till they be come to the fulness of their 

sins, so dealeth he with us, 

2Mac 6:15 

Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he 

should take vengeance of us. 

2Mac 6:16 

And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and 

though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his 

people. 

2Mac 6:17 

But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And 

now will we come to the declaring of the matter in a few words. 

2Mac 6:18 

Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a 

well favoured countenance, was constrained to open his mouth, 

and to eat swine's flesh. 

2Mac 6:19 

But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live 

stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his 

own accord to the torment, 

2Mac 6:20 

As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out 

against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be 

tasted. 

2Mac 6:21 

But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the 

old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, 

besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was 

lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh 

taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king; 

2Mac 6:22 

That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for 

the old friendship with them find favour. 

2Mac 6:23 

But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, 

and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his 

gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from 

a child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore 

he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send 

him to the grave. 

2Mac 6:24 

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, were now gone to a strange 

religion; 

2Mac 6:25 

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 to mine old age, and make it abominable. 

2Mac 6:26 

For though for the present time I should be delivered from 

the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the 

Almighty, neither alive, nor dead. 

2Mac 6:27 

Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew 

myself such an one as mine age requireth, 

2Mac 6:28 

And leave a notable example to such as be young to die 

willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And 

when he had said these words, immediately he went to the 

torment: 

2Mac 6:29 

They that led him changing the good will they bare him a 

little before into hatred, because the foresaid speeches 

proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind. 

2Mac 6:30 

But when he was ready to die with stripes, he groaned, and 

said, It is manifest unto the Lord, that 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. 

2Mac 6:31 

And thus this man died, leaving his death for an example of a 

noble courage, and a memorial of virtue, not only unto young 

men, but unto all his nation.