Eleazar and a mother with seven sons die for the Law
Hebrews 11:35–38; Daniel 11:33–35
The Jews remembered martyrs who chose torture and death rather than eat pork or deny God, among them the aged scribe Eleazar and a mother who watched her seven sons die, each confessing hope in the resurrection.
Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
Hebrews 11:35 (World English Bible)
Eleazar, a scribe ninety years old, refused even to pretend to eat pork, not wanting to lead the young astray, and died under the blows. A mother and her seven sons were tortured one by one before the king. The sons spoke of being raised again by the King of the universe, and their mother urged each of them to stand firm before she too was killed.
Hebrews almost certainly has them in mind when it speaks of those who were tortured so that they might obtain “a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). Daniel had foretold that some of “those who are wise” would fall by sword and flame, “to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white” (Daniel 11:33–35).
Ancient witnesses outside the Bible
Historical sources, not Scripture.
- 2 Maccabees 6:18–31 — Eleazar
- 2 Maccabees 7:1–42 — the mother and her seven sons
- 4 Maccabees 8:1–29 — a later retelling, as a lesson on reason ruling the passions
Dating notes
Told in 2 Maccabees 6–7, which gives no date. The persecution lasted from the desecration of the temple in 167 BC (168 BC in Ussher) until it was recovered three years later. The date shown is approximate.