2 Maccabees 6:17-19

New Catholic Bible

¹⁷ Let these words suffice as a reminder. Now we must proceed with our narrative.

Accounts of Martyrdom

¹⁸ Martyrdom of Eleazar. Eleazar, one of the foremost teachers of the law, a man of advanced age and distinguished appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. ¹⁹ But he, preferring death with honor rather than a life marked by defilement, spat it out and voluntarily went up to the torture rack,