4. The Gentiles filled the temple with debauchery and revelry; they amused themselves with prostitutes and had intercourse with women even in the sacred courts. They also brought forbidden things into the temple,
5. so that the altar was covered with abominable offerings prohibited by the laws.
6. No one could keep the sabbath or celebrate the traditional feasts, nor even admit to being a Jew.
7. Moreover, at the monthly celebration of the king’s birthday the Jews, from bitter necessity, had to partake of the sacrifices, and when the festival of Dionysus was celebrated, they were compelled to march in his procession, wearing wreaths of ivy.
8. Following upon a vote of the citizens of Ptolemais, a decree was issued ordering the neighboring Greek cities to adopt the same measures, obliging the Jews to partake of the sacrifices
9. and putting to death those who would not consent to adopt the customs of the Greeks. It was obvious, therefore, that disaster had come upon them.
10. Thus, two women who were arrested for having circumcised their children were publicly paraded about the city with their babies hanging at their breasts and then thrown down from the top of the city wall.
11. Others, who had assembled in nearby caves to observe the seventh day in secret, were betrayed to Philip and all burned to death. In their respect for the holiness of that day, they refrained from defending themselves.
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,