12 Therefore, partly in pity for his old age, 13 partly from the sympathy of acquaintance, and partly in admiration of his endurance, some of the attendants of the king said, 14 “Why do you unreasonably destroy yourself, Oh Eleazar, with these miseries? 15 We’ll bring you some meat cooked by yourself, and you can save yourself by pretending that you’ve eaten swine’s flesh.”

16 Eleazar, as though the advice more painfully tortured him, cried out, 17 “Let us who are children of Avraham not be so evil advised as by giving way to make use of an unbecoming pretence. 18 Because it’d be irrational, if having lived up to old age in all truth, and having scrupulously guarded our character for it, we’d now turn back 19 and ourselves become a pattern of impiety to the young, as being an example of eating pollution. 20 It’d be disgraceful if we’d live on some short time, and that scorned by all men for cowardice, 21 and be condemned by the tyrant for cowardice by not contending to the death for our divine law. 22 Therefore you, Oh children of Avraham, die nobly for your religion. 23 You spearbearers of the tyrant, why do you linger?”