15. because the soul’s contest is great, the danger of eternal punishment prepared for those who break God’s command is severe.
16. So then, let’s arm ourselves fully with the power that clear thinking gives for the control of the emotions.
17. If we die this way, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will give us a warm welcome, and all the ancestors will praise us."
18. The brothers who were left behind were calling out to each one as he was being dragged away, "Don’t let us down, brother, or be disloyal to the brothers who have died before us!"
19. No doubt you are aware of the powerful love that exists between brothers and sisters. Divine and wise providence gives this kind of love through the father and plants it in the mother’s womb.
20. These brothers all spent the same length of time in the same womb. They were formed over the same period of time. They grew from the same blood, and they were brought to full term with the same life.
21. They were born after the same amount of time, and drank milk from the same fountains. The same fond embraces nurtured brotherly love in their souls.
22. They grew more fervent as they were brought up together enjoying each other’s company day after day, and being shaped by the same education, particularly their training in God’s Law.
23. So it is clear, when such mutual sympathy and love for each other had been established, these seven brothers had even more sympathy for each other.
24. They loved each other so much because they had been educated in the same Law, held the same moral values, and were raised together to live a life that is just.
25. Their affection for each other and harmony grew even more because they shared a common passion for good character and conduct.
26. Family love for each other was made even more desirable to them by their godly behavior.