1And Judas heard of the fame of the Romans: that they were mighty in strength, that they showed goodwill to all who allied with them, and that they established friendship with all who came over to them.
2He was also told that they were mighty in strength. And they recounted to him their wars and the valiant deeds they performed among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them and brought them under tribute;
3and all that they had done in the country of Spain to get control of the silver and gold mines there,
4and how by their planning and perseverance they had conquered the entire region—though the place was very far from them—and also the kings who had come against them from the ends of the earth, until they crushed them and inflicted a great defeat on them, and the survivors pay them tribute annually.
5As for Philip, and Perseus king of the Kittim, and the others who rose up against them, they crushed them in war and conquered them.
6And Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who had marched against them for battle with one hundred and twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots, and a very great army, was also crushed by them.
7And they took him alive and decreed that he and his successors should pay them a great tribute, and give hostages and a cession of territory.
8And the country of India, Media, and Lydia, from among their finest provinces—taking these from him, they gave them to King Eumenes.
9And that the men from Greece had planned to come and destroy them,
10but the plan became known to them, and they sent a single general against them. They fought against them, and many of their wounded fell. They took their wives and children captive, plundered them, took possession of their land, tore down their strongholds, plundered them, and enslaved them to this day.
11And the remaining kingdoms and the islands, whoever at any time rose up against them, they destroyed and enslaved.
12But with their friends and those who relied on them, they maintained friendship. And they conquered the kingdoms near and far, and all who heard their name were afraid of them.
13Whomever they wish to help to become king, reigns; and whomever they wish, they depose. And they have been greatly exalted.
14Yet in all this, not one of them has put on a diadem or clothed himself in purple to be magnified by it.
15And they established a senate for themselves, and daily three hundred and twenty men would take counsel, always deliberating for the good of the people, to maintain good order.
16And they entrust their rule each year to one man to govern all their land, and all of them obey that one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.
17And Judas chose Eupolemus son of John, of the family of Hakkoz, and Jason son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish a friendship and alliance with them,
18and to lift the yoke from them, for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks was reducing Israel to slavery.
19So they journeyed to Rome—a very long journey—and entered the senate house, and they spoke, saying:
20“Judas, also known as Maccabeus, and his brothers, and the Jewish people have sent us to you to establish an alliance and peace with you, and to be enrolled as your allies and friends.”
21And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22And this is the copy of the letter which they, in reply, inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem to be there with them as a memorial of the peace and alliance:
23“May it be well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews on sea and on land forever, and may sword and enemy be far from them.
24But if war comes first to Rome, or to any of its allies within its entire dominion,
25the Jewish nation shall fight as an ally with a whole heart, as the occasion may direct them.
26And to the enemy they shall not give or supply grain, weapons, money, or ships, as Rome has decided. And they shall keep their obligations without receiving anything in return.
27In the same way, if war comes first to the Jewish nation, the Romans shall fight as allies with all their heart, as the occasion may direct them.
28And to their enemies, no grain, weapons, or money shall be given, as Rome has decided. And they shall keep these obligations without deceit.
29In accordance with these terms, the Romans thus made a treaty with the Jewish people.
30But if, after these terms, both parties decide to add or to remove anything, they may do so by their own choice, and whatever they add or remove shall be valid.”
31And concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius is perpetrating against them, we wrote to him, saying, “Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews?”
32So if they appeal against you again, we will grant them justice and make war on you by sea and by land.
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