1
If, then, even a woman, and that an aged one, and the mother of seven children, endured to see her children’s torments even to death, it must be admitted that Torah-faithful reasoning is master even of the emotions.
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I have proved, then, that not only men have obtained the mastery of their emotions, but also that a woman despised the greatest torments.
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The lions around Dani’el (Daniel) were not so fierce, nor the furnace of Misha’el (Misael) burning with most vehement fires as that natural love of children burnt within her, when she saw her seven sons tortured.
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But with the reasoning of covenantal Way the mother quenched emotions so great and powerful.
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For we must consider also this: that, had the woman been faint hearted, as being their mother, she would have lamented over them, and perhaps might have spoken thus:
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“Ah! I am wretched and many times miserable, who having born seven sons, have become the mother of none.
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O seven useless childbirths, and seven profitless periods of labour, and fruitless givings of suck, and miserable nursings at the breast.
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Vainly, for your sakes, O sons, have I endured many pangs, and the more difficult anxieties of rearing.
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Alas, of my children, some of you unmarried, and some who have married to no profit, I will not see your children, nor have the joy of being a grandmother.
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Ah, that I who had many and fair children, should be a lone widow full of sorrows!
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Nor, should I die, will I have a son to bury me.” But with such a lament as this, the set-apart and Elohim-fearing mother wept for none of them.
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Nor did she divert any of them from death, nor grieve for them as for the dead.
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But as one possessed with an adamant mind, and as one bringing forth again her full number of sons to immortality, she rather urged them to death on behalf of covenantal Way.
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O woman, soldier of Elohim for covenantal Way, you, aged and a female, have conquered through endurance even a tyrant; and even though weak, have been found more powerful in deeds and words.
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For when you were seized along with your children, you stood looking at Elazar in torture, and said to your sons in the Ivri tongue,
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“O sons, the contest is noble to which you are being called as a witness for the people. Strive zealously for the laws of your land.
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For it would be disgraceful if this old man endured pains for the sake of righteousness, and that you who are younger would be afraid of the tortures.
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Remember that through Elohim, you obtained existence and have enjoyed it.
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Therefore, you ought to bear every affliction because of Elohim.
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For him also our father Avraham was zealous to slaughter-offering Yitzchaq our progenitor, and didn’t shudder at the sight of his own paternal hand descending down with the sword upon him.
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The righteous Dani’el was cast to the lions; and Chananyah (Ananias), Azaryah (Azarias), and Misha’el were hurled into a fiery furnace, yet they endured through Elohim.
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You, then, having the same faith towards Elohim, don’t be troubled.
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For it is unreasonable that they who know covenantal Way wouldn’t stand up against troubles.
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With these arguments, the mother of seven, exhorting each of her sons, encouraged and persuaded them not to transgress Elohim’s commandment.
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They saw this, too, that those who die faithful to Elohim, live before Elohim, like Avraham, Yitzchaq, Ya’aqov, and all the patriarchs.