18 Eleazar was an elderly gentleman and a highly respected teacher of the Law. One day some men forced his mouth open and tried to make him eat the meat of a pig.
19 Eleazar chose to die with honor rather than to live with shame. So he willingly walked to the place of torture, spitting out the meat as he went.
20 This is a fine example of courage for everyone who is willing to refuse unclean food, even if it means death.
21 The men in charge of the lawless sacrifice had known Eleazar for a long time. So they took him aside and said to him in private:Get some meat that your religion says can be eaten. Then pretend you are eating meat from the pig that the king ordered us to sacrifice.
22 Do this, and you won't be killed. We have been friends for a long time, so let us do this favor for you.
23 But Eleazar did the only honorable thing a man of his age and reputation could do. He firmly made up his mind to obey God's Law, just as he had always done. And so he immediately said:Kill me here and now!
24 It would be disgraceful for someone my age to pretend to eat unlawful food. Our young people would think that I had given up my Jewish faith after 90 years.