the silver trumpet, vol. 1, nos. 5-7

THE SILVER TRUMPETLet Elohim arise, let Their enemies be scattered; and let

those who hate Them flee from Their Presence. - Psalm 68:1

-

Vol. 1, Nos. 5-7 9th, 10th, & 11th Months Chisleu Shebat (November 24, December 24, January 22)

2014-2015

Yahweh spoke to Moses, Make two trumpets of silver; you are to makethem from a single hammered piece. And they shall be for assembling thecommunity and for directing the traveling of the camps. When they blowthem both, all the community must come to you to the entrance of the tentof meeting. But if they blow with one trumpet, then the leaders, the headsof the thousands of Israel must assemble themselves. When you blow analarm, then the camps that are located on the east side must begin to move.And when you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that arelocated on the south side must begin to move. An alarm must be soundedfor their journeys. But when you assemble the community, you must blow,but you must not sound an alarm. The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blowthe trumpets; and they will be to you for an eternal ordinance throughoutyour generations. If you go to war in your land against an adversary whoopposes you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you willbe remembered before Yahweh your Elohim, and you will be saved fromyour enemies. Also in the time when you rejoice, such as on your appointedfestivals and at the beginnings of your months, you must blow with yourtrumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifces of your peaceofferings, so that they may be a memorial for you before your Elohim: I amYahweh your Elohim. - Numbers 10:1-10

Note: Due to the fullness of attention we have been required to pay toestablishing the basic necessities at the new Branch headquarters1 we have beencompelled to combine the ninth, tenth, and eleventh month issues of The SilverTrumpet.

1 See page 38.

The Silver Trumpet Vol. 1 Nos. 5-7 1

Psalm 35 The Folly of David's AccusersA Word For the Tempted and Tried

by Trent Wilde

The psalms of David have proven to be a continuing fountain oftruth in the present message of righteousness. In these propheticsongs, our Heavenly Family has provided plain scriptural testimony tohelp each branch candidate face every temptation in these days of therestoration of the tabernacle of David (Amos 9:11).

Truly, those being called into the priesthood of righteousness underthe Davidic order are to meet severe tests and trials. This should comeas no surprise to the student of scripture for every true revival andreformation in the history of our Gods' people has been marked, notonly by the restoration of the ceremonial service, i.e. the gospel, butalso by the desperate attempts of the enemy to foil Heaven's work.2

Evidence has been borne out in the previous issues of The SilverTrumpet as to the current restoration of the ceremonial service.Wisdom has also seen ft to reveal the attacks of the enemy against thismessage as disclosed in such passages as Zechariah 3, Psalm 2, andPsalm 7. The faithful and wise will doubtless be (or become) familiarwith these passages so that they can answer every temptation with anit is written.

The devil's attacks today are no different than in previous days inthat they consist in insinuations of doubt and baseless accusations. Byemploying these same methods in increasingly subtle ways, he hopesto rob the hearers of truth from its effcacy. So, when the enemysuggests doubts as to the truthfulness of the message, how must oneanswer if he would be on the path of life? Must it not be with an it iswritten? Likewise, when accusations are made against the message orthose bearing it, how must one fnd out whether the accusations betrue or not? Again, is it not with an it is written?

To the law and the testimony: If they speak not according to thisword, it is because there is no light in them. - Isaiah 8:20

As we begin to study our main passage, let us do it right. If yourpurpose is not to learn the truth and to live by it, your attempts atunderstanding will be vain. We absolutely must come to the scriptures

2 See The Greater Purpose, by A.T. Jones.

2 The Silver Trumpet Vol. 1 Nos. 5-7

with the humility of remembering our own nothingness. We cannotarrive at truth by our own wisdom, but only by the Spirit of God (1Cor. 2). Pray earnestly, then, for the guidance of Heaven. Plead withWisdom to search you out and remove anything in your thinking thatwould prevent you from a clear understanding of Her word. As weenter upon the investigation of scripture, we enter onto holy ground.All trifling and jesting must be put aside. He that has an ear to hear, lethim hear what the Spirit says.

Let the reader ask, What does Psalm 35 mean? Is it for today?What lessons am I supposed to learn from it? What is the answer? -Surely if it is for today, our Heavenly Family will reveal its meaningand impress its lessons upon your heart.

Our Sister wants to reason with us (Isa. 1:18). The Voice of reasonsays, Have I not been revealing these psalms to you? Is not a psalm asong and a song a prophecy? Is this not a psalm of David? Do you seethat I have been establishing my tabernacle among you and that it isthe tabernacle of David?

Present truth is what the flock needs now (EW 68). Let us considerthe prophecy then and see what David says by the Inspiration of theSpirit:

Yahweh, contend with those who contend with me! Attack thosewho attack me! - Psalm 35:1

Clearly, there are those contending with and attacking David. Butsince David is hemmed in by the Spirit (Ps. 139:5) and since his tonguedoes not frame a word without Yahweh (Ps. 139:4), the attack is reallyagainst our Heavenly Family (See Ps. 2:2).

Grab your shield and buckler; rise up to help me. Ready thespear and the javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul,'I am your deliverer!' - Psalm 35:2-3

David asks our Heavenly Family to fght for him. His request forYahweh to take up two shields and two spears reveals his perceivedneed for more than one Yahweh to take up arms on his behalf since itwould be unnatural for him to expect one person to wield two spearsand at the same time two shields. Is his prayer answered? What do thescriptures say?


In my call, you answer me, Goddess of my righteousness. In thenarrow position you make wideness for me. You are gracious to me.You hear my request. - Psalm 4:1

Yes, both his King and his Goddess pay attention to the sound ofhis cry for help (Ps. 5:2) and They come to his aid.

May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! Maythose who plan my misfortune be turned back and ashamed! -Psalm 35:4

Will not even this request be granted to David? Futile then is anyattempt to plan his misfortune or seek his life.

May they be like wind-blown chaff as the Angel of Yahwehpushes them. May their path be darkness and destruction as theAngel of Yahweh chases them! - Psalm 35:5-6

As this wind blows, so does the Spirit. The parallelism shows theAngel in this instance to be the Spirit. David's attackers are faced withthe Gods of Heaven as their adversaries. The fact that the Spiritchases them away tells us that they were at one point near to Davidand the fact that he prays for their path to be darkness and destructionshows that they once were on the path of light.

My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commandswithin you, by making your ear attentive to Wisdom and by turningyour heart to Understanding... if you seek for Her like silver andsearch for Her like hidden treasure, then you will know how to fearYahweh... For Wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will bepleasant to you. Discretion will protect you, understanding willguard you, to deliver you from the way of the wicked, from thosewho speak perversities, who leave the paths of uprightness and walkin the ways of darkness. - Proverbs 2:1-2, 4, 10-13

Those on the path of darkness, speaking perversities, have notWisdom nor life (Prov. 8:10; 12:28).

For without cause they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trapme. - Psalm 35:7


Evidently, David had done nothing deserving of their wickedschemes. Nonetheless, they dug a pit without cause, or withoutreason, even more fully stated, due to lack of reason. What saiththe scripture concerning their fate?

He who digs a pit shall fall in it. - Proverbs 26:27

May destruction take them by surprise! May the net they hidcatch them! May they fall into destruction. Then my soul shallrejoice in Yahweh and be happy in his deliverance. All my boneswill say, 'Yahweh, who is like you? You rescue the oppressed fromthose who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy fromthose who try to rob them.' - Psalm 35:8-10

The attackers are evidently trying to overpower David and to robhim. Since David's wealth is in his words of Inspiration (Ps. 19:9-10;119:72, 127; Prov. 8:10), that must be the thing which the attackers areattempting to steal.

Though this psalm is directly applicable in our day, we can fndexamples in the past which will help us to understand what it means torob the truth. Such is the example of the Messenger party:

In the summer of 1854 there appeared among the Sabbath-keeping Adventists the frst disaffection, or apostasy. Two men whohad been preaching the message were reproved through the spiritof prophecy for a harsh, censorious spirit, for avarice, and forextravagance in the use of means placed in their hands. Becomingembittered instead of repentant, they joined with a few others inunjust recrimination against Elder and Mrs. White and otherleaders, making false charges against them. Although continuing toadvocate the Sabbath truth, they began the publication of aslanderous sheet which they called The Messenger of Truth.3

You see that because of their unwillingness to receive reproof fromInspiration, these men turned against James and Ellen White andstarted to attack their characters, all the while still advocating at leastsome of the very truths which they received from the message whichcame through the very ones they were accusing! Not only was theirmode of operation an act of robbery to James and Ellen, but it wasalso robbery against those to whom they spoke slanderous words

3 Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 714 (Appendix)


concerning James and Ellen, for by turning people from them, theyturned them from their only true opportunity of receiving therighteousness of Christ.

So it is today. There are those who advocate certain truths whichthey learned through the messengers of our Heavenly Family, butbecause of unwillingness to receive reproof have turned against themand began a slanderous report. From such turn away; for,

The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but acompanion of fools suffers harm. - Proverbs 13:20

As for the experience of the robbers of truth we are told,

Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a person, but afterward hismouth is full of gravel. - Proverbs 20:17

Malicious witnesses rise up and falsely accuse me. - Psalm 35:11

Again, one may ask, Are the accusations against David true orfalse? - What do the scriptures say? The scriptures are your onlysafeguard to know the truth.

They repay me evil for the good I have done: this is ravaging mysoul. As for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth,and I afflicted myself through fasting. If I am lying, may myprayers return to me unanswered! I walked like they were my friendor my brother. I mourned for them like I would for my mother. Butat my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together; they, smiters,gathered together to ambush me. They did not desist fromslandering me. - Psalm. 35:12-15

David had done good to his attackers; namely, telling them thetruth concerning themselves offering reproof and instruction. Inreturn, he was repaid with evil. While David sees the sickness of theircondition it causes him to go into deep affliction for they were untohim as a close associate, and even more, a friend, nay even as family.Despite all this, the slanderers do not cease attacking with their lips.

As profane mockers with scorn they gnashed their teeth at me.Lord, how long will you idly watch? Rescue me from theirdestructive attacks; guard my face from the young lions [See Ps.


7:2]! I will thank you in the great congregation; I will praise youamong numerous people! Do not let those who are my enemieswith a lie gloat over me! Do not let those who hate me withoutcause wink their eye. For they do not try to make peace, but planways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. - Psalm 35:16-20

All it would take for David's slanderers to make peace is to ceasefrom strife and heed Wisdom's reproof (Prov. 20:3). Sadly, they areinstead occupying themselves with trying to deceive the unsuspecting.Now, let the unsuspecting be aware. Let the study of the scripturesmake you wise unto salvation. Psalm 35 must mean something, must itnot? Let the truth be told.

They open wide their mouth against me and say, 'Aha, Aha! Ourown eye has seen him.' Look Yahweh! Lord, be not far from me.Bestir yourself and rise up for my justice. My Goddess and myLord, defend my just cause! Vindicate me by your justice, Yahwehmy Goddess. Do not let them gloat over me. - Psalm 35:21-24

Evidently, David's slanderous opposers claim to have some sort ofspecial insight into him due to their frst hand experience with him.Justice and righteousness though, demand the vindication of David.His Saviors come to his aid.

Do not let them say in their hearts, 'Aha! Our throat!' Don't letthem say, 'We have devoured him!' May those who desire mymisfortune be totally embarrassed and ashamed. May those whomagnify themselves against me be clothed with shame andhumiliation. - Psalm 35:25-26

Everyone has a right to choose their path. David, seeing that thosethat are magnifying themselves against him are not turning from theirway, desires that they be embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated.He would rather their shame if it means the salvation of those whomthey are trying to deceive, rather than leaving it for them to gloat intheir hearts as they rest in their carnal security, thinking they are allright when they are all wrong.

Doubtless, David's attitude toward his accusers may be interpretedas unkind or insensitive by those uneducated in the principles of truth,but it is better for Inspiration's rebuke to be heard than to let sin gouncorrected for fear of hurt feelings.


The forerunner of Christ's frst advent was a very plain-spokenman. He rebuked sin, and called things by their right names. Helaid the ax at the root of the tree. He thus addressed one class ofprofessed converts who came to be baptized of him in Jordan: 'Ogeneration of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrathto come? Bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance.... Andnow also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore everytree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast intothe fre.'

In this fearful time, just before Christ is to come the second time,God's faithful preachers will have to bear a still more pointedtestimony than was borne by John the Baptist. A responsible,important work is before them; and those who speak smooth things,God will not acknowledge as His shepherds. A fearful woe is uponthem.4

Knowing that the mind of Christ is truth, reason, and love, we donot hesitate to speak the truth. Today there are those of the same classas those in John's day. They are represented as Cush the Benjamite inPsalm 7 and as David's attackers here in Psalm 35. Many of you haveheard their slander and know their attacks, even though they attemptsubtlety. Know that those attacking this message (and the one givenresponsibility to bear it) are a generation of vipers. They do not imageour Heavenly Family but rather follow in the path of the serpent andare thus his children and likened unto him. The poison they breathe issin and death.

For in their mouth, there is no truth; their inward part is futileand injurious; their throat is an open grave; their tongue is asmooth, slippery slope leading down into it. - Psalm 5:9

Those who bring forth such deathly fruits will be hewn down andcast into the fre. The message to them is, Repent! Before it is toolate, Repent!

The Gods (Elohim) judge righteously; God (El) is full of wrath inall the day. If a person does not repent, He sharpens His sword. Hisbow is bent and she is made ready. And for him He prepares Hisweapons of death; He gets ready his flaming arrows. Behold theone who is pregnant with evil and conceives mischief and births

4 Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 321


falsehood. He digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.His mischief returns on his own head and on the crown of his headshall come down his violence. - Psalm 7:11-16

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure,and whether it be right. - Proverbs 20:11

As you witness the works of David's attackers, remember all thesescriptures.

May those who have a desire for my righteousness shout for joyand rejoice! May they continually say, 'May Yahweh be praised forhe desires the peace of his servant.' Then I will proclaim yourjustice and praise you all day long. - Psalm 35:27-28

Let the words of scripture dominate your thinking (Phil. 2:5). Is notthis 35th psalm clear in its meaning? Hide these words in your heartthat you might not sin against our Heavenly Family, for with thesewords in mind, the enemy's temptations to believe the lie lose theirpower. Depend upon a thus saith the LORD. It is time to settle intothe truth and learn the lessons Heaven intends us to learn.

In closing, consider the principles set forth in the followingtestimony:

Remarks are thoughtlessly made by some designedly, by otherscarelessly concerning the burden bearers there and concerningthose who stand at the head of the work. God has marked all thesespeeches and the jealousy and envy which prompted them; afaithful record is kept. Many thank God for the truth and then turnaround and question and fnd fault with the very means whichHeaven has ordained to make them what they are or what theyought to be. How much more pleasing to God it would be for themto act the part of Aaron and Hur and help hold up the hands ofthose who are bearing the great and heavy burdens of the work inconnection with the cause of God. Murmurers and complainersshould remain at home, where they will be out of the way oftemptation, where they cannot fnd food for their jealousies, evilsurmising, and faultfndings, for the presence of such is only aburden to the meetings; they are clouds without water.

Those who feel at liberty to fnd fault with and censure thosewhom God has chosen to act an important part in this last greatwork would better seek to be converted and to obtain the mind of


Christ. Let them remember the children of Israel who were soready to fnd fault with Moses, whom God had ordained to leadHis people to Canaan, and to murmur against even God Himself.All these murmurers fell in the wilderness. It is easy to rebel, easy togive battle before considering matters rationally, calmly, and settlingwhether there is anything to war against. The children of Israel arean example to us upon whom the ends of the world are come.5

4 MaccabeesA Comparative Translation6

Each month there is fresh fruit from the Tree of Life (Prov. 3:18).What Wisdom laid upon our table this last new moon the new moonof the 10th month, being within Hanukkah, was an ancient writingmost commonly known as 4 Maccabees, but which has also beenanciently titled On the Supremacy of Reason.

The primary concern dealt with in this writing is the question ofwhether or not reason is the ruler of the emotions, or passions. Inanswering this question, several examples are given to illustrate theauthor's point. The examples used are predominantly those of the

5 Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 526-5276 Our translation, as contained herein, is not a new translation either of a particular

manuscript of 4 Maccabees, nor of a modern critical text of the same work; rather, it is a result of comparing (1) modern translations with their textual notes, (2) modern critical texts, and (3) ancient manuscript transcriptions and facsimiles. The modern translations which were taken into consideration are The New Revised Standard Version, The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament: English Translation (Brenton), The Lexham English Septuagint, The Lexham Greek-English Interlinear Septuagint: H.B. Swete Edition, and the translation by H. Anderson contained in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol. 2. The modern critical texts consulted are Henry Barclay Swete's Old Testament in Greek According to the Septuagint (including three apparatuses for 4 Maccabees), Rahlfs' Septuagint, and The Fourth Book of Maccabees and Kindred Documents in Syriac by R.L. Bensly and W.E. Barnes. The ancient manuscripts of which we had transcriptions or facsimiles available to us are Codex Sinaiticus and the fragments of The Sahidic Coptic Version of 4 Maccabees published by Ivan Miroshnikov.Despite the availability of many resources which include 4 Maccabees or related material, the text critical studies of this work are only in their elementary stages. As the textual criticism advances it will be benefcial to have an updated and more thorough translation of this important work.


martyrs near the beginning of the Maccabean revolt. Since the bookspeaks for itself, we will provide but little comment, and that which wedo provide will be in footnotes.

On The Supremacy of Reason

Author Introduces His Purpose

1 Being about to demonstratea word which is especiallyphilosophical7, that is, whetherdevout reason is sovereign overthe passions,8 I counsel you togive heed to the philosophy. 2 Forthis word is necessary for all whowould attain knowledge, and inaddition it includes the praise ofthe highest virtueI mean, ofcourse, sound reasoning. 3 If,then, it is evident that reasonrules over those passions whichhinder sound judgment namely,gluttony and lust, 4 it is also clearthat it rules over the passionsthat hinder one from righteous-ness, such as malice, and thosethat impede courage, namelyanger, fear, and pain. 5 Howthen, some might perhaps ask,if reason governs the passions,does it not rule over forget-fulness and ignorance? Their

7 The word philosophy is from Greek phileo () meaning love and sophia () meaning wisdom. The combination of these two words into philosophy literally translates loving wisdom.

8 Otherwise translated emotion or feeling.

attempt to speak this way isridiculous! 6 For reason does notrule its own passions, but thosethat are opposed to righteous-ness, courage, and soundness ofmind; and it is not for thepurpose of destroying them, butso that one may not yield tothem.

7 I could prove to you frommany and various examples thatreason is dominant over theemotions, 8 but I can bestdemonstrate it from the noblebravery of those who died forthe sake of virtue, Eleazar andthe seven brothers and theirmother. 9 For each of these, bydisregarding sufferings thatbring death, demonstrated thatreason rules over the passions.10 On this anniversary9 it isftting for me to praise for theirvirtues those who, with theirmother, died for the sake ofnoble character and goodness,but I would also call themblessed for the honor in whichthey are held. 11 All people, eventheir torturers, admired theircourage and perseverance, andthey became the cause of the

9 Evidently, Hanukkah


downfall of tyranny over theirnation. By their endurance theyconquered the tyrant, and thustheir homeland was purifedthrough them. 12 I shall have anopportunity to speak of thisshortly; but, as my custom is, Iwill begin by stating my mainprinciple, and then I'll turn totheir story, giving glory to theall-wise God.

Reason's Sovereignty Over Passion13 Our inquiry, accordingly, is

whether reason is sovereign overthe passions. 14 Let us evaluate,then, just exactly what reason isand what passion is, how manykinds of passions there are, andwhether reason rules over allthese. 15 Now, reason is the wayof thinking that, with sound logic,prefers above all else the life andword of wisdom. 16 Now wisdomis the knowledge of divine andhuman matters and the causesof these. 17 This, in turn, iseducation in the law, by whichwe reverently learn of divinematters and of human affairs,both to our advantage. 18 Now,the various forms of wisdom aresound judgment, righteousness,courage and self-control.

19 Sound judgment is supremeover all of these, since by meansof it reason rules over thepassions. 20 The two most wide-ranging sources of passion are

pleasure and pain; and each ofthese springs up from thepsyche.10 21 A large retinue ofpassions attend both pain andpleasure. 22 Thus desire precedespleasure and delight follows it.23 Fear precedes pain and sorrowcomes after. 24 Anger, as a personwill see by reflecting on how thisexperience has touched him, is apassion which embraces bothpleasure and pain. 25 In pleasurethere exists even a maliciouspropensity, since of all thepassions, it is most multifaceted.26 In the psyche it is boastfulness,love of money, thirst for honor,love of contention, and spite.27 In the body, indiscriminateeating, gluttony, and eatinggreedily.

28 Therefore, just as pleasureand pain are, as it were, twobranches growing from the bodyand the psyche, likewise thereare many offshoots from thesepassions, 29 each of which themaster cultivator, reason, weedsand prunes and ties up andwaters and thoroughly irrigates,and so tames the forest ofinclinations and passions. 30 Forreason is the guide of the virtuesand the absolute master of thepassions.

10 Psyche here is a transliteration from the Greek. The word means inner thoughts or, perhaps, the inner manner of thoughts unique to self.


Observe now, frst of all, thatrational judgment is sovereignover the emotions by virtue ofthe restraining power of soundreasoning. 31 Sound reasoning,then, is dominance over thedesires. 32 Some desires aremental, others are physical, andreason shines out as ruling overboth. 33 Otherwise, how is it thatwhen we are attracted towardforbidden foods we abstain fromthe pleasure to be had fromthem? Is it not because reason isable to rule over appetites? Icertainly think so. 34 Thereforein desiring seafood and fowl andanimals and all sorts of foodsthat are forbidden to us by thelaw, we abstain because ofdomination by reason. 35 For thepassions of the appetites arerestrained, being bent back bythe sensible11 mind, and all theimpulses of the body are bridledby reason.

The Mind of Reason and Living theLaw

2 So then, who should beamazed if the desires of themind for cohabitation withbeauty are rendered powerless?2 It is for this reason, certainly,that the temperate Joseph ispraised, because in reason andby thinking he gained mastery

11 Or temperate

over sensuality. 3 For eventhough he was young and in hissexual prime, by his reason hemade of none effect the drivingdesire of his passions. 4 Not only,therefore, is it clear that reasonrules over the frenzied urge ofsexual desire, but also over everydesire. 5 Therefore the law says,You shall not covet yourneighbors wife or anything thatis your neighbors. 6 Surelythen, since the law has told usnot to covet, I should be able topersuade you all the more thatreason is able to rule all desires.

Even so it is with the passionsthat hinder one from righteous-ness. 7 For how else could it bethat one who is habitually aselfsh eater, a glutton, or adrunkard could be educateddifferently, unless reason ismanifestly the master over thepassions? 8 Therefore, a person,for example, when living by thelaw, even though he be a lover ofmoney, his way is constrained tolend to the poor without interestand to cancel his debt when theseventh year comes. 9 And if oneis greedy, he is brought underthe rule of the law throughreason so that one neither gleansthe harvest nor gathers the lastgrapes from the vineyard.

Likewise, in all other matterswe can perceive that reasonrules the passions. 10 For the law


prevails even over affection forparents, so that virtue is notabandoned for their sakes. 11 Itrules over the affection for oneswife, convicting her for breakingthe law. 12 It masters affection forchildren, so that one chastisesthem for wickedness. 13 It is alsomaster over beloved friendship,so that one convicts his friendswhen they act wickedly. 14 Donot consider it surprising thatreason, through the law, canprevail even over enmity, so thatthe fruit trees of the enemy arenot cut down, but one preservesthe property of his enemiesfrom their destroyers and helpsto raise up what has fallen.

15 It is evident that reason ruleseven the more violent passions:lust for power, vainglory,boasting, pride, and malice.16 All these malicious passionsthe sensible mind rejects, just asit does with angerfor over ittoo it has mastery. 17 WhenMoses was angry with Dathanand Abiram, he did nothingagainst them in anger, but byreason he controlled his anger.18 For, as I have said, the sensiblemind is able to get the better ofthe passions, to transform some- on the one hand, and to makeof none effect others - on theother hand. 19 Otherwise, forwhat reason did our most wisefather Jacob censure the house-

holds of Simeon and Levi forcutting the throats of the nationof the Shechemites, saying,Cursed be their anger? 20 Forif reason could not controlanger, he would not have spokenin this way. 21 Now when Godfashioned human beings, heplanted in them passions andinclinations, 22 but at the sametime he enthroned the mindamong the senses as the temple12

governor over them all. 23 And tothe mind he gave the law; andthe one who lives according tothis law will rule a kingdom thatis sensible, righteous, good, andcourageous.

24 How is it then, one mightsay, that if reason is master ofthe passions, it does not ruleforgetfulness and ignorance?

3 1 But this argument isentirely ridiculous; for reason isnot shown to rule over its ownpassions, but over those relatedto the body.13 2 For instance,none of us can eradicate desire,but reason is able to ensure thatyou do not become enslaved to

12 The nuance of this word has been lost in most translations which render it sacred. The word itself is the word for sanctuary or temple, though it appears here in its adjectival form.

13 Or, as some amend the text (see Hadas, Maccabees, p. 157): but those that are opposed to righteousness, courage, and soundness of mind.


desire. 3 No one of us caneradicate anger from the psyche,but reason is capable of dealingwith anger 4 No one of us caneradicate malice, but reason canfght at our side so that we arenot overcome by malice. 5 Forreason does not uproot thepassions but is their antagonist.

King Davids Thirst6 This becomes even clearer, in

fact, when we consider the storyof King Davids thirst. 7 Davidhad been fghting the Philistinesall day long, and together withthe soldiers of his nation hadkilled many of them. 8 Then,when evening fell, he came quiteexhausted and sweating to theroyal tent, around which thewhole army of our ancestorshad encamped. 9 Now all therest were at supper, 10 but theking was extremely thirsty, andthough springs were plentifulthere, he could not satisfy histhirst from them. 11 But a certainirrational desire for the water inthe enemys territory tormentedand inflamed him, undid andconsumed him. 12 When hisguards grumbled because of thekings craving, two staunchyoung soldiers, respecting thekings desire, armed themselvesfully, and taking a pitcher scaledthe enemys defenses. 13 Eluding

the sentinels at the gates, theywent searching throughout theenemy camp 14 and found thespring, and from it boldlybrought the king a drink. 15 ButDavid, though he was burningwith thirst, considered it analtogether fearful danger to hispsyche to drink what he countedas equivalent to blood.

16 Therefore, he set reasonagainst desire and poured outthe drink as an offering to God.17 For the sensible mind is able toconquer the compulsions of thepassions and quench the flamesof frenzied desires; 18 it can over-come the pains of the body,however extreme, and throughthe nobility of reason utterlythrow out all domination by thepassions.

Onias' Reason Testament to a King19 And now, at the present

season, we are called to reviewan account a demonstration ofsensible reason.

20 During a time when ourancestors were experiencingdeep peace because of theirobservance of the law and wereachieving prosperity so that evenSeleucus Nicanor,14 king of Asia,

14 A note occurring at this point in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha translation reads, Seleucus Nicanor is an egregious error, and V [Codex Venetus] reads, 'Seleucus, descendant


had both appropriated money tothem for the temple service andrecognized their independence 21 just at that time certainpersons attempted a revolutionagainst the public harmony andinstigated many and variouscalamities.

4 Now there was a certain

Simon, a political opponent ofthe noble and good man, Onias,who at that time held the highpriesthood for life. But when, inspite of spreading all sorts ofslander, he was unable to harmOnias in the eyes of the nation,he fled the country with thepurpose of betraying it. 2 So hecame to Apollonius, governor ofSyria, Phoenicia, and Cilicia,and said, 3 I have come herebecause I am loyal to the kingsgovernment, to report that inthe treasuries of Jerusalem thereare deposited tens of thousandsin private funds, which are notthe property of the temple butbelong to King Seleucus.4 When Apollonius learned thedetails of these things, hepraised Simon for his service tothe king and went up to

of Nicanor.' The king intended here is Seleucus IV Philopator, who was the sixth successor of Seleucus Nicanor and son of Antiochus III the Great and older brother of his own successor, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. (Brackets added)

Seleucus to inform him of therich treasure. 5 On receivingauthority to deal with thismatter, he proceeded quickly toour country accompanied by theaccursed Simon and a verystrong military force. 6 He saidthat he had come with the kingsauthority to seize the privatefunds in the treasury. 7 Thepeople indignantly protested hiswords, considering it outrageousthat those who had committeddeposits to the sacred treasuryshould be deprived of them, anddid all that they could to preventit. 8 But, Apollonius, utteringthreats, went on to the temple.9 Then the priests, together withwomen and children in thetemple, implored God to defendthe holy place that was being sodesecrated; 10 and then, whileApollonius was going up withhis armed forces to seize themoney, angels on horsebackwith lightning flashing fromtheir weapons appeared fromthe sky, instilling in them greatfear and trembling. 11 ThenApollonius fell down half deadin the courtyard of the temple,which was open to all peoples,and stretched out his handstoward heaven, and with tearsbegged the Hebrews to pray forhim and appease the heavenlyhost. 12 For he said that he hadcommitted a sin deserving of


death, and that if he werespared he would praise theblessedness of the holy placebefore all people. 13 Moved bythese words, the high priestOnias, although otherwise hewould have reluctance to do so,prayed for him so that KingSeleucus would not suppose thatApollonius had been overcomeby human treachery - not bydivine justice. 14 So Apollonius,having been saved beyond allexpectations, went away toreport to the king what hadhappened to him.

Antiochus Persecution of the Jews15 When King Seleucus died,

his son Antiochus Epiphanessucceeded to the throne, anarrogant and terrible man,16 who removed Onias from thepriesthood and appointed Jason,Oniass brother, as high priest.17 Jason agreed that if the offcewere conferred on him he wouldpay the king three thousand sixhundred sixty talents each year.18 So the king appointed himhigh priest and ruler of thenation. 19 In total violation ofthe law, Jason changed thenations way of life and its formof government 20 so that notonly was a gymnasium placed atthe very citadel of our nativeland, but also the temple service

was abolished. 21 The divinejustice was angered by these actsand caused Antiochus himself tomake war on them. 22 For whenhe was warring against Ptolemyin Egypt, he heard that a rumorof his death had spread and thatthe people of Jerusalem hadrejoiced greatly. He speedilymarched against them, 23 andafter he had plundered them heissued a decree that if any ofthem were found observing theancestral law they should die.24 And when, by means of hisdecrees, he had not been able inany way to put an end to thepeoples respect for the law, butsaw that all his threats andpenalties were being disregarded25 even to the extent thatwomen, because they hadcircumcised their sons, werethrown headlong from heightsalong with their infants, thoughthey had known beforehand thatthey would suffer this 26 when,I say, his decrees were despisedby the people, he himself tried,by means of torture, to compeleveryone in the nation to eatdefled foods and to renounceJudaism.

The Vain Philosophy of Antiochusvs. The True Philosophy of Eleazar

5 The tyrant Antiochus, sittingwith his counselors on a certain


high place, and with his armedsoldiers standing around him,2 ordered the guards to seizeeach and every Hebrew and tocompel them to eat swine's fleshand food sacrifced to idols. 3 Ifany were unwilling to eatunclean food, they were to betortured and put to death.4 When many persons had beenrounded up, one man, Eleazarby name, a leader of the flock,was brought before the king. Hewas a man of priestly family,learned in the law, advanced inyears, and known to many in thetyrants court for his philosophy.

5 When Antiochus saw him hesaid, 6 Before I begin to tortureyou, old man, I would adviseyou to eat the swine's flesh andsave yourself. 7 I respect your ageand your gray hairs, although tohave had them for so long atime and still cling to thereligion of the Jews makes youanything but a philosopher inmy eyes. 8 Why should youabhor eating the very excellentmeat of this animal when naturehas so freely bestowed it on us?9 For surely, it is senseless not toenjoy harmless pleasures, and itis wrong to despise nature's goodgifts. 10 It seems to me that it willbe greater folly still if, by holdingto a useless view concerning thetruth, you continue to despiseme to your own hurt. 11 Will you

not awaken from your foolishphilosophy, abandon your futilereasonings, adopt a frame ofmind to match your years, andphilosophize according to thetruth of what is benefcial?12 Bow to my benevolent adviceand have pity on your old age.13 For consider this: if there issome power watching over thisreligion of yours, it will excuseyou from any transgressioncommitted under compulsion.

14 When the tyrant had urgedhim on in this way to eatunlawful meat, Eleazar asked tohave a word. 15 When he hadreceived permission to speak, hebegan to address the people asfollows: 16 We, O Antiochus,who have been persuaded togovern our lives according to thedivine law, do not consider anycompulsion laid upon us mightyenough to overcome our ownwilling obedience to the law.17 Therefore, under no circum-stances whatever do we everdeem it right to transgress thelaw in any respect. 18 Even if, asyou suppose, our law were nottruly divine and we had wronglyheld it to be divine, not even sowould it be right for us toinvalidate our reputation forholiness. 19 Therefore, do notsuppose that it would be a pettysin for us to eat unclean food!20 To transgress the law in


matters either small or greatmatters is the same, 21 for ineither case the law is equallydespised. 22 You scoff at ourphilosophy as though living by itwere irrational, 23 but it teachesus sound reasoning, so that wemaster all pleasures and desires,and it also trains us in courage,so that we willingly endure allsuffering; 24 it instructs us inrighteousness, so that we actimpartially in all our dealings,and it teaches us holiness, sothat with proper reverence wehonor only the living God.

25 Therefore, we do not eatunclean food. Trusting that thelaw was established by God, weknow that the Creator of theworld, in giving us the law,conforms it to our nature. 26 Hehas permitted us to eat what willbe most suitable for us, but hehas forbidden us to eat meatsthat would be contrary to us.27 It is tyrannical for you tocompel us not only to transgressthe law, but also to eat in such away that you may deride us foreating unclean foods, which aremost abhorrent to us. 28 But youshall have no such occasion tolaugh at my expense, 29 nor will Itransgress the sacred oaths ofmy ancestors concerning thekeeping of the law, 30 not even ifyou gouge out my eyes and burnmy entrails. 31 I am not so old

and cowardly that my reasonshould lose its youthful vigor inbehalf of holiness. 32 Thereforeget your torture wheels readyand stoke the fre all the morevehemently! 33 I do not so pitymy old age as to break the lawof my fathers on account ofmyself. 34 I will not play lies withyou, O law my teacher, nor willI renounce you, self-control, myfriend. 35 I will not put you toshame, philosophy of reason,nor will I disown you, honorablepriesthood and knowledge ofthe law. 36 You, O king, shall notdefle the honorable lips of myold age, nor my life of service tothe law. 37 My ancestors willreceive me15 as pure, as one whodoes not fear your violence evento death. 38 You may tyrannizethe ungodly, but you shall nevergain mastery over me with myholy reason, either by words orthrough deeds.

The Martyrdom of Eleazar

6 When Eleazar had respondedin such an eloquent manner tothe exhortations of the tyrant,the guards who were standing

15 Being received by one's fathers, or being gathered to one's fathers are common Semitic idioms referring to death. See Gen. 15:15; 25:8; Nu. 20:24; 27:13; Acts 13:36. The idea is that when one dies he goes to the same place his predecessors went; namely, the dust (Gen. 3:19; Job 7:21; Ecc. 3:20; 12:7).


by dragged him violently to theinstruments of torture. 2 First,they stripped off the old man'sclothes, though he remainedadorned with the gracefulness ofholiness. 3 Then, binding hisarms on either side, theyscourged him with whips, 4 whileright up against him a heraldshouted, Obey the commandsof the king! 5 But the noble andhigh minded man, like a trueEleazar,16 absolutely refused torecant as if the torture werenothing more than a dream;6 and, keeping his eyes raised toheaven, the old man let his fleshbe torn by the scourges until hisblood flowed freely and his sideswere cut into pieces. 7 Althoughhe fell to the ground when hisbody could no longer endure thepain, yet he kept his reasonupright and unswerving. 8 Afterhe had fallen, one of themerciless guards rushed at him,kicking him savagely on his sideto make him get up, 9 but hebore the pains and scorned thepunishment and endured thetortures. 10 Under a hail of blows,the old man, like a true athlete,prevailed over his torturers; 11 infact, with his face bathed insweat, and gasping heavily forbreath, even his torturers wereamazed by his resilience.

16 The name Eleazar means seed of God.

12 At that point, partly out ofpity for his old age, 13 partly outof sympathy from acquaintancewith him, and partly out ofadmiration for his endurance,some of the kings servants wentup to him and said, 14 Eleazar,why are you so thoughtlesslydestroying yourself in this foulway? 15 Let us set before yousome cooked food so you cansave yourself by pretending toeat swine's flesh.

16 But Eleazar, as if tormentedmore bitterly by their counsel,cried out: 17 Never may we, thechildren of Abraham, think sobasely that out of cowardice wefeign a role so unbecoming tous! 18 For it would most surely becontrary to reason if, havinglived in accordance with truthright up to old age and havingmaintained in accordance withlaw the reputation of such a life,we should now change ourcourse 19 and ourselves become amodel of ungodliness to theyoung by setting an example ofthe eating of unclean food. 20 Itwould be shameful if we shouldsurvive for a little while andduring that time be a laughing-stock to all for our cowardice,21 and be despised by the tyrantas unmanly by not contendingeven to death for our divine law.22 Therefore, O children ofAbraham, die nobly for the sake


of holiness! 23 And you, guardsof the tyrant, why do you delay?

24 When they saw that he wasso high minded in the face ofthe afflictions, and so adamantagainst their offer of mercy, theguards brought him to the fre.25 There they burned him withmaliciously contrived instru-ments; they threw him down,and they poured a foul-smellingconcoction into his nostrils.26 When his flesh had beenburned away to the very bonesand he was at the point ofexpiring, he lifted up his eyes toGod and said, 27 You know, OGod, that though I might havesaved myself, I am dying in thesefery torments for the sake ofthe law. 28 Be merciful to yourpeople, and let our punishmentsuffce for them. 29 Make myblood their purifcation, andtake my life in exchange fortheirs. 30 After he said this, theholy man died nobly in histortures; even in the tortures ofdeath he held his ground, byvirtue of reason, for the sake ofthe law.

31 Admittedly, then, devoutreason is ruler over the passions.32 If the passions had prevailedover reason, we would havetestifed to their domination.33 But now, since reason hasconquered the passions, weproperly recognize that it has

the power to govern. 34 It is onlyright that we confess reason'sdominance when it masters evenexternal agonies. It would beridiculous to do otherwise.35 The arguments that I havegiven as evidence have demons-trated not only that reason rulesover pain, but also that itmasters pleasures and neverdoes it give in to them.

Eulogy Concerning Eleazar

7 For like a most skillful pilot,the reason of our father Eleazarsteered the ship of holiness overthe sea of the passions, 2 andthough buffeted by the threats ofthe tyrant and swamped by themighty waves of tortures, 3 in noway did he swerve the rudder ofholiness, even until he sailed intothe haven of victory over death.4 No city besieged with manyingenious war machines has everheld out as did that most holyman. Although his sacred lifewas consumed by tortures andracks, he conquered the oneswho besieged him with theshield of holy reason. 5 For insetting his mind frm like ajutting cliff, our father Eleazarbroke the maddening waves ofthe passions. 6 O priest, worthyof the priesthood, you neitherdefled your sacred teeth norprofaned your stomach, which


had room only for reverenceand purity, by eating uncleanfoods. 7 O man in harmony withthe law and philosopher ofdivine life! 8 Such should bethose who are administrators ofthe law, shielding it with theirown blood and noble sweat insufferings even to death. 9 You,father, frmly established ourobservance of the law throughyour endurance unto glory, andyou did not abandon theholiness that you praised, but byyour deeds you made yourwords of divine philosophycredible. 10 O aged man, mightierthan torture; O elder, morevigorous than fre; O supremeking over the passions, Eleazar!11 For just as our father Aaron,armed with the censer, ranthrough the multitude of thepeople and conquered the feryangel, 12 so the descendant ofAaron, Eleazar, though beingconsumed by the fre, did notturn from his reason. 13 Mostamazing, indeed, though he wasan old man, his body no longertense and frm, his muscles allrelaxed, his sinews feeble, hebecame young again 14 by theSpirit through reason; and byreason like that of Isaac heprevailed over the many-headedtorture. 15 O man of blessed ageand of holy gray hair and life oflawfulness, whom the faithful

seal of death has perfected! 16 If, therefore, an aged man

despised tortures even to deathon account of holiness, it cannotbe denied that holy reason isruler over the passions. 17 Someperhaps might say, Not all havefull command of their passions,because not all have insightfulreasoning. 18 But as many asturn to holiness with their wholeheart, these alone are able torule the passions of the flesh,19 since they believe that they,like our patriarchs Abraham andIsaac and Jacob, do not die toGod, but live to God. 20 Nocontradiction therefore ariseswhen some persons appear to bedominated by their passions dueto the weakness of their reason.21 What person who lives as aphilosopher by the whole rule ofphilosophy, and trusts in God,22 and knows that it is blessed toendure any suffering for the sakeof virtue, would not be able toovercome the passions throughgodliness? 23 For only the wiseand courageous are masters oftheir passions.

Seven Brothers Defy the Tyrant

8 Yes indeed, even the veryyoung, by following a philosophyin accordance with holy reason,have prevailed over the mostpainful instruments of torture.


2 For when the tyrant had beenso conspicuously defeated in hisfrst attempt, being unable tocompel an aged man to eat un-clean foods, then commanded,in violent rage, that others ofthe Hebrew captives be brought,and that any who ate uncleanfood would be freed after eating,but if any were to refuse, theywould be tortured even morecruelly.

3 When the tyrant had giventhese orders, seven brothershandsome, modest, honorable,and gifted in every waywerebrought before him along withtheir aged mother. 4 When thetyrant saw them, grouped abouttheir mother as though a chorus,he was pleased with them. Andstruck by their appearance andnobility, he smiled at them, andsummoned them nearer andsaid, 5 Young men, I admireeach and every one of you andwant to show you favor, andsince I have great respect for thebeauty of such a large band ofbrothers, I not only advise younot to display the same madnessas that of the old man who hasjust been tortured, but I alsourge you to yield to me and takeadvantage of my friendship.6 Just as I am able to punishthose who disobey my orders, soI am able to beneft those whoobey me. 7 Believe me, therefore,

when I tell you that if you onlyrenounce the ancestral law ofyour nation you will receive highpositions with authority in myaffairs. 8 Enjoy your youth byadopting the Greek way of lifeand by changing your mode ofliving. 9 But if by disobedience,though, you rouse my anger, youwill compel me to use dreadfulpunishments to destroy eachand every one of you by torture.10 Therefore, take pity on your-selves. For even I, your enemy,feel compassion for your youthand handsomeness. 11 Will younot consider this, that if youdisobey, nothing remains for youbut to die with torments?

12 With these words, he orderedthe instruments of torture to bebrought forward in order topersuade them out of fear to eatthe unclean food. 13 When theguards had placed before themwheels and joint dis-locators,rack and hooks and catapultsand caldrons, braziers andthumbscrews and iron claws andwedges and bellows, the tyrantresumed speaking: 14 Be afraid,young fellows; whatever justiceyou worship17 will be merciful toyou when you transgress undercompulsion.

15 But when they had heard his

17 This is a wordy way of saying your god which was common to ancient pagan philosophers.


inducing words and saw thedreadful machines of torture,not only were they not afraid,but they also held up their viewsagainst the tyrant, which werecontrary to his, with their ownphilosophy, and by their rightreasoning nullifed his tyranny.16 Let us consider, however, whatarguments might have beenused if some of them had beenfainthearted or cowardly. Wouldthey not have gone on like this? -17 We are such stupid wretchesif we do not accept such kindtreatment and generosity whichthe king is offering us if we obeyhim! 18 Why do we take pleasurein vain decisions and ventureupon a disobedience that bringsdeath? 19 Men, brothers, shouldwe not fear the instruments oftorture and consider the threatsof torments, and give up thisvain opinion and this arrogancethat threatens to destroy us?20 Let us take pity on our youthand have compassion on ourmothers age; 21 and let's take itto heart that if we disobey weare dead! 22 Also, divine justicewill excuse us for fearing theking since, after all, we are undercompulsion. 23 Why should webanish ourselves from this life ofsatisfaction and deprive ourselvesof this sweet world? 24 Let us notstruggle against compulsion orhold to useless ideas in view of

the torture rack before us. 25 Noteven the law itself would intent-ionally put us to death forfearing these instruments oftorture. 26 Why should we be soabsorbed in contentiousness orso attracted to fatal endurance,when we can live in peace if weobey the king?

27 But the young men, thoughabout to be tortured, uttered nosuch words nor did they enter-tain such thoughts. 28 For theydespised the passions and ruledover pain, 29 so that as soon asthe tyrant had ceased counselingthem to eat unclean food, theyall with one voice together, asfrom one mind, said:

9 Why do you delay, tyrant?

For we are ready to die ratherthan to transgress our ancestralcommandments. 2 For we wouldtruly be bringing shame on ourancestors if we do not live inobedience to the law and takeMoses as our counselor. 3 Tyrantand counselor of lawlessness, inyour hatred for us do not pity usmore than we pity ourselves.4 For we consider this pity ofyours, which insures our safetythrough transgression of the law,to be more grievous than deathitself. 5 You seek to terrify us bythreatening us with death bytorture, as though a short timeago you learned nothing from


Eleazar. 6 But if the aged men ofthe Hebrews, because of theirholiness lived righteously whileenduring torture, it would onlybe right that we young menshould die in disregard of yourcoercive tortures, which ourelderly instructor also overcame.7 Therefore, tyrant, put us to thetest; and if you take our livesbecause of our godliness, do notsuppose that you can injure uswith your torments. 8 For we,through this severe suffering andendurance, shall have the prizeof virtue and shall be with God,on whose account we suffer;9 but you, because of your thirstfor our blood, will undergo atime of fery torment by divinejustice.

The Torture of the First Brother10 Indignant at the young

men's disobedience, the tyrantwas even more enraged by theiringratitude. 11 Then, at the wordof his command, the guardsbrought forward the eldestbrother, and having torn off histunic, they bound his hands andarms on each side with leatherstraps. 12 When they had wornthemselves out beating him withscourges, without accomplishinganything, they placed him uponthe wheel. 13 When the nobleyouth was stretched out around

this, his limbs were dislocated,14 and as limb after limb wasdisjointed he denounced thetyrant, saying, 15 You mostabominable tyrant, enemy ofheavenly justice, and savagelyminded, you are mangling me inthis manner, not because I am amurderer, or as one who actsunrighteously, but because Ishield the divine law. 16 Andwhen the guards said, Agree toeat so that you may be releasedfrom the tortures, 17 he replied,You disgraceful minions! Yourwheel is not so powerful as tostrangle my reason. Cut mylimbs, burn my flesh, and twistmy joints; 18 through all thesetortures I will convince you thatthe children of the Hebrewsalone are unconquered wherevirtue is concerned. 19 When hesaid these things, they spreadfre under him, and while ragingit hotter, they tightened thewheel further. 20 The wheel wascompletely smeared with blood,and the heap of coals was beingquenched by the drippings ofgore, and pieces of flesh werefalling off the axles of themachine. 21 Although the joiningligaments of his bones werealready severed, the young man,high minded and worthy ofAbraham, did not groan. 22 As ifhe were being transformed intoincorruption by the flames, he


nobly endured the torments andsaid, 23 Imitate me, brothers; donot leave your post in my trial orrenounce our bold brotherhood.24 Fight the sacred and noblebattle for holiness. Thereby thejust providence that protectedour ancestors might becomemerciful to our nation and takevengeance upon the accursedtyrant. 25 When he had saidthis, the holy young man brokethe thread of life.

The Torture of the Second Brother26 While all were marveling at

his courageous spirit, the guardsbrought in the next eldest, andafter ftting themselves withsharp-clawed iron hands, theybound him to the torturingmachine and catapult. 27 Beforetorturing him, they inquired ifhe were willing to eat, and theylistened to his noble decision.28 They then tore at his tendonswith the iron hands and rippedoff his flesh even from hischeeks; these leopard-like beastseven scrapped the skin off hisscalp. But he endured this agonywith courage and said, 29 Howsweet is any kind of death forthe faith of our ancestors! 30 Tothe tyrant he said, Do you notthink, you most savage tyrant,that you are being torturedmore than I, as you see the

arrogant reasoning of your owntyranny being defeated by ourendurance for the sake of ourfaith? 31 I am sustained in mypain by the joys that come fromvirtue, 32 but you suffer tortureby the threats that come fromungodliness. You will not escape,you most abominable tyrant, thejudgments of the divine wrath.

The Torture of the Third Brother

10 When he too had endureda glorious death, the third wasled in, and many repeatedlyurged him to save himself bytasting the meat. 2 But heshouted, Do you not know thatthe same father begot me as wellas those who died, and the samemother bore me, and that on thesame teachings I was raised? 3 Iwill not renounce the noblebond of brotherhood. 5 Beingenraged by the mans boldness,they disjointed his hands andfeet with their instruments, andwith levers they wrenched hislimbs from their sockets, 6 andthey twisted his fngers and armsand legs and elbows. 7 And notsucceeding in any way to over-whelm him, they discarded theirmachines and scalped him withtheir fngernails as the Scythiansdo. 8 Then they brought him atonce to the wheel, and while hisvertebrae were being dislocated


on it, he saw his own flesh tornall around and drops of bloodflowing from his entrails. 9 Whenon the brink of death, he said,10 We, most abominable tyrant,are suffering because of ourtraining in divine virtue, 11 butyou, due to your ungodlinessand thirst for blood, will undergoinextinguishable torments.

The Torture of the Fourth Brother12 When he too had died in a

manner worthy of his brothers,they dragged in the fourth,saying, 13 As for you, do not giveway to the same insanity as yourbrothers, but obey the king andsave yourself. 14 But he said tothem, You cannot heat the freso hot as to make a coward ofme. 15 Noby the blessed deathof my brothers, by the ever-lasting ruin of the tyrant, and bythe glorious life of the righteous,I will not renounce our noblebrotherhood. 16 Tyrant, contrivewhatever tortures you want thatyou may learn from them that Iam a brother to those who havebeen tortured already. 17 Whenhe heard this, the bloodthirsty,murderous, and utterly vileAntiochus gave orders to cut outhis tongue. 18 But he said, Evenif you remove my organ ofspeech, God understands alsothose who are mute. 19 See, my

tongue is hanging out; cut it off,for in spite of this you will notsilence our reason. 20 For Godwe gladly allow the limbs of ourbody to be mutilated. 21 God willvisit you swiftly, for you arecutting out a tongue that hasbeen melodious with divinepraises.

The Torture of the Fifth Brother

11 When he too died, afterbeing cruelly tortured, the ffthleaped up, saying, 2 I am notabout to ask, tyrant, to beexcused from the torture whichis for virtue's sake. 3 I have comeof my own accord, so that bymurdering me you may becomedeserving of the humiliation thatheavenly justice will deal out toyou. 4 Hater of virtue, enemy ofhumankind, for what act of oursare you destroying us in thisway? 5 Is it because we reverethe Creator of all things and liveaccording to his virtuous law?6 But such conduct deserveshonor, not torment!18 9 Whilehe was saying these things, theguards bound him and draggedhim to the catapult; 10 theybound him to it by his knees,and ftting iron clamps on them,they twisted his back around the

18 Verses 7 and 8 are missing from important manuscripts and are likely not original to the text; they have therefore been omitted.


wedge on the wheel, so that hewas completely curled back likea scorpion, and all his limbswere disjointed. 11 In this state,breathing constricted and bodycompressed, 12 he said, Tyrant,you are bestowing gloriousfavors on us against your will,enabling us to demonstrate ourconstancy to the law throughthese honorable sufferings.

The Torture of the Sixth Brother13 When he too had died, the

sixth, a mere boy, was led in.When the tyrant inquiredwhether he was willing to eatand be released, he said, 14 It istrue that I am younger in agethan my brothers, but I am theirequal in mind. 15 Being born andraised in the same way and forthe same purpose, we oughtlikewise to die for the sameprinciples. 16 So if you intend totorture me for not eating defledfoods, then torture me! 17 Whenhe had said this, they led him tothe wheel. 18 He was carefullystretched tight upon it until hisback was broken, and they set afre going beneath him. 19 Theyheated up sharp cooking spikesand drove them into his back,piercing his ribs so that theyburned out his entrails. 20 Whilebeing tortured he said, Ocontest ft for holiness, in which

so many of us brothers havebeen called! Yet, in the sufferingsfor godliness we have not beendefeated. 21 For holy knowledge,O tyrant, is unconquerable. 22 Ialso, equipped with nobility, willdie with my brothers, 23 and Imyself will bring a great avengerupon you, you inventor oftortures and enemy of thosewho are truly devout. 24 Six ofus, though just young men, havedestroyed your tyranny. 25 Sinceyou have not been able topersuade us to change our mindor to force us to eat uncleanfoods, is not this your downfall?26 Your fre is cold to us, andyour catapults painless, and yourviolence powerless. 27 For it is notthe guards of the tyrant butthose of the divine law that havebeen set over us; therefore,unconquered, we hold fast toreason.

The Torture of the Seventh Brother

12 When he too had died ablessed death, having been castinto the caldron, the seventh andyoungest of all came forward.2 Moved with pity toward him,in spite of the fact that he hadbeen vehemently reproached byhis brothers, the tyrant invitedhim to come closer and venturedto persuade him, saying, 3 Yousee the result of your brothers


senselessness, for because oftheir disobedience they died atorturous death. 4 You too, if youdo not obey, will be miserablytortured and meet a prematuredeath, 5 but if you obey you willbe my friend and will be givencharge over my affairs of state.6 When he had thus urged him,he sent for the boys mother sothat he might show pity to herover the loss of so many sonsand further to encourage thesole surviving son to submit tothe obedience that would savehim. 7 But when his mother hadexhorted him in the Hebrewtongue, as we shall relate shortly,8 he said, Let me loose; let mespeak to the king and to all hisfriends that are with him.9 Extremely pleased by the boysdeclaration, they freed him atonce. 10 Running to the nearestof the frying pans, 11 he said,You profane tyrant, mostungodly of all the wicked, sinceyou have received good thingsand also your kingdom fromGod, were you not ashamed tomurder his servants and tortureon the wheel those who practiceholiness? 12 In return for this,justice will hold in store for youa more ferce and abiding fre aswell as tortures, that, for thewhole time, will not let you go.13 As a man, were you notashamed to cut out the tongues

of men who have feelings likeyours and are made of the sameelements as you, and to maltreatand torture them in this way you savage beast? 14 Surely theyby dying nobly fulflled theirservice to God, but you will wailbitterly for having killed withoutcause the champions of virtue.15 Then, he too, being about todie, said, 16 I will not desert thetestimony of my brothers; 17 butI call on the God of our ancestorsto be merciful to our nation.18 But you, you will be humiliatednow in life and also in death.19 After he had uttered thesethings, he flung himself into thefrying pans and thereby offeredhimself up.

Reasons Sovereignty in the Seven

13 Now then, since the sevenbrothers despised sufferings evenunto death, everyone mustconcede that devout reason issovereign over the passions. 2 Forif they had been slaves to theirpassions and had eaten uncleanfood, we would say that theyhad been conquered by thesepassions. 3 But, in fact, it was notso. Instead, by reason, which ispraised by God, they prevailedover their passions. 4 So then,one is not to ignore this chiefcommand of the mind, for itrules over both passions and


sufferings. 5 How then can onefail to confess the rulership ofsound reason over the passionsin these men, seeing that theydid not shrink from the agoniesof fre? 6 For just as towersjutting out over harbors holdback the threatening waves andmake it calm for those who sailinto the inner basin, 7 so theseven-towered right reason ofthe youths, by fortifying theharbor of holiness, conqueredthe tempest of the passions. 8 Forthey constituted a holy chorus ofgodliness as they encouragedone another, saying, 9 Brothers,let us die like brothers for thesake of the law; let us imitatethe three youths in Assyria whodespised the same ordeal of thefurnace. 10 Let us not be cowardlyin the demonstration of truefaith. 11 Courage, brother! saidone, and another said, Hold onnobly, 12 and another remindedthem, Remember whence youcame, and the father by whosehand Isaac would have willinglybeen sacrifced for the sake ofholiness. 13 Each one separatelyand all of them together lookingat one another with a cheerfuldemeanor, aglow with courage,said, Let us consecrate ourselvesto God with all our hearts. Hegave us our lives, and let us useour bodies as a bulwark for thelaw. 14 Let us not fear him who

intends to kill us, 15 for great isthe struggle of the psyche andthe danger of a time of tormentwhich lies before all those whotransgress the commandment ofGod. 16 Therefore let us put onthe full armor of self-control,which is divine reason. 17 For ifwe so die, Abraham and Isaacand Jacob will receive us, and allof our ancestors will praise us.18 And to each one of thebrothers as they were draggedaway, those who were left said,Do not shame us, brother, orbetray the brothers who havedied before us.

19 You are not ignorant of theaffection of family ties which thedivine and all-wise providencehas allotted through the fathersto their descendants and whichwas implanted in the motherswomb. 20 There each of thebrothers spent the same lengthof time and was shaped duringthe same period of time; andgrowing from the same bloodand through the same life, theywere brought to the light of day.21 When they were born after anequal time of gestation, theydrank milk from the samefountains. And brotherly-lovingsouls are nourished by beingembraced at the same breast:22 and they grow from strengthto strength by this commonnurture and daily companion-


ship, as well as in the trainingimposed by our discipline in thelaw.

23 Therefore, when sympathyand brotherly affection had beenso established, the brothers werethe more sympathetic to oneanother. 24 Since they had beeneducated by the same law andtrained in the same virtues andbrought up in righteousness,they loved one another all themore. 25 A common zeal fornobility strengthened theirgoodwill toward one another,and their concord, 26 becausethey could make their brotherlylove more fervent with the aid oftheir faith. 27 But althoughnature and companionship andvirtuous habits had strengthenedthe bond of brotherhood, thosewho were left endured for thesake of holiness, while watchingtheir brothers being maltreatedand tortured to death.

14 Moreover, they encouraged

them to face the torture, so thatthey not only despised theiragonies, but also mastered theemotions of brotherly love.

2 O reason, more kingly thankings and freer than the free! 3 Osacred and harmonious concordof the seven brothers on behalfof faith! 4 Not one of the sevenyouths turned coward or shrankfrom death, 5 but all of them, as

though running on the highwayto immortality, hastened on todeath by torture. 6 Just as thehands and feet are moved inharmony with the promptings ofthe mind, so those holy youths,as if impelled by the immortalSpirit of holiness, agreed to goto death for Her sake. 7 O, youseven most holy brothers; andharmonious! For just as theseven days of creation move inchoral dance around holiness,8 so these youths, forming achorus, encircled the sevenfoldfear of tortures and dissolved it.9 Even now, as we hear of thesufferings of these young men,we ourselves shudder. They,though, not only saw what washappening, not only heard thedirect word of threat, but alsobore the sufferings patiently, andin agonies of fre at that. 10 Whatcould be more excruciatinglypainful than this? For the powerof fre is intense and swift, and itconsumed their bodies quickly.

On the Mother of the Seven11 Do not consider it amazing

that reason had full commandover these men in their tortures,since the mind of womandespised even more diverseagonies, 12 for the mother of theseven young men endured underthe torments of each one of her


children. 13 Observe how complex is a

mothers love for her children,which draws everything towardan emotion felt in her inmostparts. 14 For even unreasoninganimals have an affection andlove for their offspring as well ashumans. 15 For example, amongbirds, the ones that are tameprotect their young by buildingon the housetops, 16 and others,by building on mountain peaksand in clefts of rocks and in theholes or tops of trees, hatchtheir nestlings and ward off theintruder. 17 If they are not ableto keep the intruder away, theydo what they can to help theiryoung by flying in circles aroundthem in the anguish of love,warning them with their owncalls. 18 And why is it necessaryto demonstrate sympathy forchildren by the example ofunreasoning animals, 19 sinceeven bees at the time for makinghoneycombs defend themselvesagainst intruders and, as thoughwith an iron dart, sting thosewho approach their hive anddefend it even to the death?20 But sympathy for her childrendid not sway the mother of theyoung men; she was of the samemind as Abraham.

15 O reason that was thetyrant over the passions for her

sons! O holiness indeed, it wasmore desirable to the mothereven than her children! 2 Twocourses of possibility were opento this mother, that of holiness,and that of preserving her sevensons for a time, as the tyrant hadpromised. 3 She loved holinessmore, the holiness that preservesthem for the age of life accordingto Gods word. 4 How can Ipossibly express the deep love ofparents for their children? Onthe tender nature of the childwe impress a wonderful likenessof both shape and psyche, andthis is especially so with motherswho are more affectionate intheir own feelings toward theirchildren than are fathers. 5 For,as much as mothers are theweaker vessel and give birth tomany, so much more do theylove their children. 6 The motherof the seven boys, more thanany other mother, loved herchildren. In seven pregnanciesshe had implanted in herselftender love toward them, 7 andbecause of the many pains shesuffered with each of them shehad sympathy for them; 8 yetbecause of the fear of God shedisdained the temporal safety ofher children. 9 Not only so, butalso because of the nobility ofher children and their eagerobedience to the law, she felt agreater tenderness toward them.


10 For they were righteous andself-controlled and brave andvery generous, and loved theirbrothers and their mother, sothat they obeyed her even todeath in keeping the law.

11 Nevertheless, even though somany factors influenced themother to suffer with them outof love for her children, in thecase of none of them were thevarious tortures strong enoughto pervert her reason. 12 Buteach child separately and all ofthem together the mother urgedon to death for holiness' sake.13 O sacred nature and affectionof parental love, yearning ofparents toward children, nurtureand indomitable suffering bymothers! 14 This mother, whosaw them tortured and burnedone by one, because of holinessdid not change her attitude.15 She watched the flesh of herchildren being melt away in thefre; she saw their fngers andtoes scattered on the ground,and the flesh of their heads rightdown to the cheeks laid outbefore her like masks.

16 O mother, tried now bymore bitter pains than even thebirth pangs you suffered forthem! 17 O woman, who alonegave birth to such completedevotion! 18 When the frstbornbreathed his last, it did not turnyou aside, nor when the second

in his torments looked at youpiteously nor when the thirdexpired; 19 nor did you weepwhen you looked at the eyes ofeach one in his tortures gazingboldly at the same agonies, andsaw in their nostrils the signs ofthe approach of death. 20 Whenyou saw the flesh of childrenburned upon the flesh of otherchildren, severed hands uponhands, scalped heads uponheads, and corpses fallen onother corpses, and when yousaw the place flled with manyspectators of the torturings, youdid not shed tears. 21 Neither themelodies of sirens19 nor thesongs of swans attract theattention of their hearers as didthe voices of the children intorture calling to their mother.22 How great and how manifoldwere the torments the motherthen suffered as her sons weretortured on the wheel and withthe hot irons! 23 But devoutreason, giving her heart a manscourage in the very midst of herpassions, strengthened her totranscend the affections of amother's love for a time.

19 Sirens were 'mythical' women, sometimes daemons, who would lure sailers to wreck their ships on the rocks or to cast themselves into the sea by their inducing songs. See Oxford American Dictionary, art. Sirens; Encyclo-pedia of 7700 Illustrations, p. 1445 Ulysees and the Sirens (6522).


24 Although she witnessed thedestruction and the endlesslyvaried torments of her sevenchildren, this mother of a noblecharacter disregarded all thesebecause of faith in God. 25 Forin the council chamber of herown heart, as it were, shewitnessed mighty advocatesnature, family, parental love, andthe torments of her children26 this mother held two ballots,one bearing death and the otherdeliverance for her children.27 She did not choose the deliver-ance that would preserve herseven sons for a short time, 28 butas a true daughter of Abraham,God-fearing, she remembered hisfortitude.

29 O mother of the nation, youare a vindicator of the law and achampion of holiness! Youcarried away the prize of thecontest in your heart! 30 You aremore noble than men in stead-fastness, and more courageousthan heroes in endurance! 31 Justas Noahs ark, carrying theworld in the universal flood,stoutly endured the waves, 32 soyou, O guardian of the law,overwhelmed from every side bythe flood of your emotions andthe violent winds, the torture ofyour sons, endured nobly andwithstood the wintry storms thatassail holiness.

16 If then, a woman, and anelderly woman at that, enduredseeing her children tortured todeath, it must be admitted thatdevout reason is sovereign overthe passions. 2 Therefore, I havedemonstrated that not only menhave ruled over the passions, butalso that a woman has despisedthe fercest tortures. 3 The lionssurrounding Daniel were not sosavage, nor was the raging feryfurnace of Mishael so intenselyhot, as was the natural motherlylove that burned within her asshe saw her seven sons soindiscriminately tortured. 4 But,by holy reason, the motherquenched so many and suchgreat passions.

5 Consider this also: If thiswoman, being a mother, hadbeen fainthearted, she wouldhave mourned over them andperhaps spoken as follows: 6 Ohow wretched am I and manytimes unhappy! After bearingseven children, I am now themother of none! 7 How vainwere these seven pregnancies,how futile these seven timesbeing ten months20 with child,

20 A note occurring at this point in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha translation reads, 'Ten months' is a literal rendering of the Gk. dekamnoi, a common expression in antiquity for the period of gestation, although the correct number of months was known well enough.


how fruitless the nurturing andwretched the nursing! 8 In vain,my sons, I endured these manybirth pangs for you, and themore grievous strains of rearingyou. 9 Alas for my children, someunmarried, others married andwithout offspring. I shall not seeyour children or have the joy ofbeing called grandmother. 10 Woeis me, for I had many handsomesons, but am now bereft and allalone with my many sorrows!11 And when I die, I shall havenone of my sons to bury me.

12 But instead that holy andGod-fearing mother did not wailwith such a lament for any ofthem, nor did she dissuade anyof them from dying, nor did shegrieve as they were dying. 13 Onthe contrary, as though she hada mind like adamant and weregiving rebirth into immortalityto the whole number of hersons, she implored them andurged them on to death for thesake of holiness. 14 O mother,soldier of God in the cause ofholiness, elder and woman! Bysuch bold steadfastness you haveconquered even a tyrant, and inword and deed you have provenyourself stronger than a man.15 For when you were seized,along with your sons, you stood,and watching Eleazar beingtortured, and said to your sonsin the Hebrew language, 16 My

sons, noble is the contest towhich you are called in order tobear witness for our people. Fightzealously for our ancestral law.17 For it would be shameful if,while an aged man endures suchagonies for the sake of holiness,you young men were to beterrifed by tortures. 18 Rememberthat it is through God that youhave had a share in the worldand have enjoyed life, 19 andtherefore you ought to endureany suffering for the sake ofGod. 20 For his sake also ourfather Abraham was zealous tosacrifce his son Isaac, theancestor of our nation; andwhen Isaac saw his fathers handwielding a knife and descendingupon him, he did not cower.21 Daniel also, the righteous, wasthrown to the lions; Hananiah,Azariah, and Mishael were castinto the fery furnace and allendured it for the sake of God.22 You too must have the samefaith in God and not be grieved.23 For it would be unreasonablefor you who have knowledge ofholiness not to withstand pain.

24 By these words the motherof the seven encouraged andpersuaded each of her sons todie rather than violate Godscommandment. 25 They knewalso that those who die for thesake of God will live to God, aswill Abraham and Isaac and


Jacob and all the patriarchs. 17 Some of the guards said

that when she also was about tobe seized and put to death shethrew herself into the flames sothat no one might touch herbody.

2 O mother, who with yourseven sons nullifed the violenceof the tyrant, frustrated his evildesigns, and showed the courageof your faith! 3 Nobly set like aroof on the pillars of your sons,you held frm and unswervingagainst the earthquake of thetortures. 4 Be bold, therefore, Oholy-minded mother, frmlymaintaining an enduring hopein God. 5 The moon in heaven,with the stars, are established,but not so majestic as you, who,being as a light to your sevenstar-like sons, guided them toholiness and are frmly set andestablished with them beforeGod in heaven. 6 For yourchildren were true children ofAbraham, our father.

The Effect of the Martyrdoms7 If it were possible for us to

paint the history of our faith asan artist might, would not thosewho frst behold it shudder asthey see the mother of the sevenchildren enduring their variedtortures to death for the sake of

holiness? 8 Indeed it would beproper to inscribe on their tombthese words as a reminder to thepeople of our nation:

9 Here lie buried an agedpriest and an aged woman and

seven sons, because of theviolence of the tyrant who

wished to destroy the way of lifeof the Hebrews.

10 They vindicated theirnation, looking to God and

enduring torture even todeath.

11 Truly the contest in whichthey were engaged was divine,12 for on that day virtue gave theawards and tested them for theirendurance. The prize for victorywas incorruption in endless life.13 Eleazar was the frst to enterthe contest, the mother of theseven sons entered the compe-tition as well, and the brothersalso contended. 14 The tyrantwas the antagonist, and theworld and the human race werethe spectators. 15 Godliness wasvictor and gave the crown to itsown champions. 16 Who did notadmire the champions of thedivine law? Who were notamazed?

17 The tyrant himself and hiswhole council were astonishedat their endurance, 18 on accountof which they will stand beforethe divine throne and live the


life of the age of blessing.21 19 ForMoses says, All the holy onesare under your hands. 20 These,then, having consecrated them-selves for the sake of God, arehonored, not only with thishonor, but also by the fact thatbecause of them our enemiesdid not triumph over our nation,21 the tyrant was punished, andthe homeland purifed since theybecame, as it were, a ransom forthe sin of our nation. 22 Andthrough the blood of theserighteous ones and through theatoning sacrifce of their death,divine providence preservedIsrael, which had been shame-fully treated.

23 For the tyrant Antiochus,when he saw the courage oftheir virtue and their enduranceunder the tortures, proclaimedtheir endurance to be a modelfor his soldiers, 24 and this madethem brave and courageous forinfantry battle and siege, and heravaged and conquered all hisenemies.

18 O offspring of the seed of

21 Other manuscripts read, now stand before the divine throne... That said, the manuscript traditions here followed are less subject to interpretations that set this verse at odds with the view of death and resurrection presented not only in the other books of the Maccabees, but also within 4 Maccabees itself (see 18:17-19).

Abraham, children of Israel,