The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Maccabees 13
1 If then, the seven kindred despised
troubles even to death, it is admitted on all
sides that righteous reasoning is absolute
master over the emotions.
2 For just as if they had eaten of the
unholy as slaves to the emotions, we would
have said thatthey had been conquered by
them.
3 Now it is not so. But by means of the
reasoning which is praised by God, they
mastered their emotions.
4 It is impossible to overlook the
leadership of reflection, for it gained the victory
over both emotions and troubles.
5 How, then, can we avoid according to
these men mastery of emotion through
right reasoning, since they didn’t
withdraw from the pains of fire?
6 For just as by means of towers projecting
in front of harbors men break the
threatening waves, and thus assure a still
course to vessels entering port,
7 so that seven-towered right-reasoning
of the young men, securing the harbour
of religion, conquered the tempest of emotions.
8 For having arranged a holy choir of
piety, they encouraged one another, saying,
9 “Brothers, may we die brotherly for the
law. Let us imitate the three young men in
Assyria who despised the equally afflicting
furnace.
10 Let’s not be cowards in the manifestation of piety.”
11 One said, “Courage, brother!” and
another, “Nobly endure!”
12 Another said, “Remember of what
stock you are;” and by the hand of our
father Isaac endured to be slain for the
sake of piety.
13 One and all, looking at each other
serene and confident, said, “Let’s sacrifice
with all our heart our souls to God who
gave them, and employ our bodies for the
keeping of the law.
14 Let’s not fear him who thinks he kills;
15 for great is the trial of soul and danger
of eternal torment laid up for those who
transgress the commandment of God.
16 Let’s arm ourselves, therefore, in the
self-control, which is divine reasoning.
17 If we suffer like this, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob will receive us, and all the
fathers will commend us.
18 As each one of the kindred was hauled
away, the rest exclaimed, “Don’t disgrace
us, O brother, nor falsify those who died
before you!”
19 Now you arenotignorant ofthe charm
of brotherhood, which the Divine and all
wise Providence has imparted through
fathers to children, and has engendered
through the mother’s womb.
20 In which these brothers having remained
an equal time, and having been formed for
the same period, and been increased by
the same blood, and having been perfected
through the same principle of life,
21 and having been brought forth at
equal intervals, and having sucked milk
from the same springs, hence their brotherly
souls are reared up lovingly together,
22 and increase the more powerfully by
reason of this simultaneous rearing, and
by daily companionship, and by other
education, and exercise in the law of God.
23 Brotherly love being thus sympathetically
constituted, the seven kindred had a
more sympathetic mutual harmony.
24 For being educated in the same law,
and practicing the same virtues, and
reared up in a just course of life, they
increased this harmony with each other.
25 For the same ardor for what is right
and honorable increased their goodwill
and harmony toward each other.
26 For it acting along with religion, made
their brotherly feeling more desirable to
them.
27 And yet, although nature, companionship,
and virtuous morals increased their
brotherly love, those who were left
endured to see their kindred, who
were mistreated for their religion,
tortured even to death.