Given by: Eleazar, an aged scribe, refusing to eat unlawful food under Antiochus's persecution. Given to: the reader, as a model of faithfulness unto death.

Antiochus made keeping the law a capital crime and forced Jews to eat unlawful food on pain of death; Eleazar, an elder honoured for his faith, refused, choosing death rather than apostasy.

But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

The aged Eleazar freely chose an honourable death rather than a life bought by betraying God's law.

2 Maccabees 6:19

Your Spirit

Loves God

Loves Neighbor

Your Body

Moral Behaviour