2 Maccabees 14:37-46

Common English Bible

³⁷ A Jerusalem elder named Razis was denounced to Nicanor as someone who loved the citizens, was well spoken of, and was called “Father of the Jews” because of his kindness. ³⁸ Early on in the revolt, he had been put on trial for Judaism and risked body and soul for its cause. ³⁹ Wanting to make public the hatred he had toward the Jews, Nicanor sent a group of more than five hundred soldiers to take him, ⁴⁰ because he thought that by arresting him, he would create a problem for the Jewish people.^{[a] 41} When the mob was about to take the tower, forcing open the door of the courtyard, they commanded that the door be set on fire. Razis was surrounded on every side, so he fell on his own sword. ⁴² He wanted to die bravely rather than fall into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages unworthy of his own high birth. ⁴³ But the blow didn’t strike its mark because of the haste of the struggle and the surge of the mob through the doors. Running with honor out onto the wall, he courageously threw himself down into the mob. ⁴⁴ When they suddenly drew back, a space opened up, and he landed in the middle of it. ⁴⁵ While still breathing and burning with anger, he rose up, ignoring the gushing blood and the terrible injuries, and made his way through the crowd to stand on a pile of rubble. ⁴⁶ Entirely drained of blood, he tore out his intestines, took them in both hands, and threw them at the mob. As he did this, he called out to the one with authority over life and spirit to return his insides to him, and in this manner he died.