24. “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many of the young would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion.
25. If I dissemble to gain a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring defilement and dishonor on my old age.
26. Even if, for the time being, I avoid human punishment, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hand of the Almighty.
27. Therefore, by bravely giving up life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age,
28. and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.”He spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture.
29. Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness.