12. Now I urge those who read this book not to be disheartened by these misfortunes, but to consider that these punishments were meant not for the ruin but for the correction of our nation.
13. It is, in fact, a sign of great kindness to punish the impious promptly instead of letting them go for long.
14. Thus, in dealing with other nations, the Sovereign Lord patiently waits until they reach the full measure of their sins before punishing them; but with us he has decided to deal differently,
15. in order that he may not have to punish us later, when our sins have reached their fullness.
16. Therefore he never withdraws his mercy from us. Although he disciplines us with misfortunes, he does not abandon his own people.
17. Let these words suffice for recalling this truth. Without further ado we must go on with our story.
18. Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man advanced in age and of noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork.
19. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture,