2 Maccabees 14:42
King James VersionSource notes
“Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:”
Context
39So Nicanor, willing to declare the hate that he bare unto the Jews, sent above five hundred men of war to take him:
40For he thought by taking him to do the Jews much hurt.
41Now when the multitude would have taken the tower, and violently broken into the outer door, and bade that fire should be brought to burn it, he being ready to be taken on every side fell upon his sword;
42Choosing rather to die manfully, than to come into the hands of the wicked, to be abused otherwise than beseemed his noble birth:
43But missing his stroke through haste, the multitude also rushing within the doors, he ran boldly up to the wall, and cast himself down manfully among the thickest of them.
44But they quickly giving back, and a space being made, he fell down into the midst of the void place.
45Nevertheless, while there was yet breath within him, being inflamed with anger, he rose up; and though his blood gushed out like spouts of water, and his wounds were grievous, yet he ran through the midst of the throng; and standing upon a steep rock,