21. But those in charge of the unlawful sacrifice, because they had known the man for a long time, took him aside in private and urged him to bring meat that was lawful, prepared beforehand by himself, and then pretend to eat the meat from the sacrifice that the king commanded.
22. By doing this he might escape death and attain friendly treatment because of his old friendship with them.
23. But adopting a dignified perspective worthy of his seniority, his distinguished old age and the gray hair he had acquired, and worthy of his excellent conduct from childhood, and, moreover, worthy of the holy and God-created laws, he declared to them to send him to the grave immediately:
24. "It’s not worthy of our old age to act out such a role. Otherwise, many of the young would assume wrongly that Eleazar the 90-year-old had changed to a foreign way of life.
25. If I acted out this charade for the sake of living a moment longer, I would mislead them, and I would be defiled and dishonored in my old age.
26. Even if I escaped the punishment of human beings for the moment, I would certainly not escape the hands of the almighty—whether alive or dead.
27. So I give up my life courageously now to show myself worthy of my old age,
28. and to leave a fine example for the young people of how to die a good death with eagerness and dignity for the revered and sacred laws." After he spoke he immediately approached the torture instrument.
29. Those who had shown goodwill toward him earlier now felt hostility toward him, because the words he had spoken seemed insane to them.