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 that they had been conquered by them.
3
Now it is not so. But by means of the reasoning which is praised by Elohim, 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 harbours 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 covenantal Way, conquered the tempest of emotions.
8
For having arranged a set-apart choir of covenant faithfulness, they encouraged one another, saying,
9
“Brothers, may we die brotherly for the Torah. 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 covenant faithfulness.”
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 Yitzchaq endured to be slain for the sake of covenant faithfulness.
13
One and all, looking at each other serene and confident, said, “Let’s slaughter-offering with all our heart our inner lives to Elohim who gave them, and employ our bodies for the keeping of the Torah.
14
Let’s not fear him who thinks he kills;
15
for great is the trial of inner life and danger of eternal torment laid up for those who transgress the commandment of Elohim.
16
Let’s arm ourselves, therefore, with the self-control, which is reasoning shaped by Torah.
17
If we suffer like this, Avraham, Yitzchaq, and Ya’aqov 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 are not ignorant of the charm of brotherhood, which the work of Elohim and all wise providential rule has imparted through fathers to children, and has engendered through the mother’s womb.
20
These brothers remained an equal time in their mother’s womb, and were formed for the same period, and nourished by the same blood, and were perfected through the same principle of life.
21
They were brought forth at equal intervals, and sucked milk from the same fountains. Their brotherly inner lives were reared up lovingly together,
22
and increase more powerfully by reason of this simultaneous rearing, and by daily companionship, and by other education, and exercise in the Torah of Elohim.
23
Brotherly love being thus sympathetically constituted, the seven kindred had a more sympathetic mutual harmony.
24
For being educated in the same Torah, and practising the same forms of uprightness, and reared up in a just course of life, they increased this harmony with each other.
25
For the same ardour for what is right and honourable increased their goodwill and harmony towards each other.
26
For it acting along with covenantal Way, 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 covenantal Way, tortured even to death.