5 The tyrant Antiokos, therefore, sitting in public state with his assessors on a certain lofty place, with his armed troops standing in a circle around him, 2 commanded his spearbearers to seize every one of the Ivrim (Hebrews), and to compel them to taste swine’s flesh and things offered to idols. 3 Should any of them be unwilling to eat the accursed food, they were to be tortured on the wheel and so killed. 4 When many had been seized, a foremost man of the assembly, a Hebrew, by name Eleazar, a priest by family, by profession a lawyer, and advanced in years, and for this reason known to many of the king’s followers, was brought near to him.

5 Antiokos, seeing him, said, 6 “I’d counsel you, old man, before your tortures begin, to taste the swine’s flesh, and save your life; for I feel respect for your age and hoary head, which since you’ve had so long, you appear to me to be no philosopher in retaining the superstition of the Yehudim (Jews). 7 Because therefore, since nature has conferred on you the most excellent flesh of this animal, do you loathe it? 8 It seems senseless not to enjoy what’s pleasant, yet not disgraceful; and from notions of sinfulness, to reject the gifts of nature. 9 You’ll be acting, I think, still more senselessly, if you follow vain conceits about the truth. 10 You will, moreover, be despising me to your own punishment. 11 won’t you awake from your trifling philosophy, give up the folly of your notions, and regaining understanding worthy of your age, search into the truth of an expedient course? 12 won’t you respect my kindly admonition and have pity on your own years? 13 Because bear in mind that if there’s any power which watches over this religion of yours, it’ll pardon you for all transgressions of the law which you commit through compulsion.”