1 Maccabees 8

1 Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans: that they are mighty in strength, that they welcome all who join them and make friendship with all who come to them — and that they are mighty in strength. [a] 2 He was told of their wars, and of the brave deeds they were doing among the Galatians — how they had conquered them and put them under tribute — 3 and of all they had done in the land of Spain to take control of the silver and gold mines there: 4 how by planning and patience they had mastered the whole region, though it lay very far from their own land; how they had crushed the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth, striking them a great blow; and the rest pay them tribute year by year.

5 Philip, and Perseus king of the Kittim, and the others who rose against them, they had crushed in battle and subdued. 6 Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, had marched against them in battle with a hundred and twenty elephants, with cavalry and chariots and a very great army — and he was crushed by them. 7 They took him alive, and required him and the kings who reigned after him to pay a heavy tribute, to give hostages, and to hand over a set portion of territory — 8 the country of India, and Media, and Lydia, from among their best lands; and they took these from him and gave them to King Eumenes. [b]

9 He heard too that the Greeks had made a plan to come and destroy them, 10 but the plan became known to the Romans, and they sent a single general against them and made war on them. Many of the Greeks fell dying of their wounds; the Romans took their wives and children captive, plundered them, mastered their land, tore down their strongholds, and have held them as slaves to this day. 11 The remaining kingdoms and the islands — all who ever stood against them — they destroyed and enslaved; but with their friends, and with all who rely on them, they have kept friendship. 12 They have mastered kings near and far, and all who hear their name are afraid of them. 13 Whomever they choose to help to a throne, those men reign; and whomever they choose, they depose. They have been lifted very high.

14 Yet for all this, not one of them has put on a crown or wrapped himself in purple to make himself great by it. 15 They have made themselves a senate house, where three hundred and twenty councilors deliberate day by day, taking constant thought for the people, to keep them in good order. 16 And they entrust their government to one man each year, to rule over all their land; everyone obeys that one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.

17 So Judas chose Eupolemus son of John, son of Accos, and Jason son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance, 18 and to get the yoke lifted from them, for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks was grinding Israel down into slavery. 19 They went to Rome — a very long journey — and entered the senate house, and there they spoke: 20 “Judas, who is called Maccabeus, and his brothers, and the people of the Jews have sent us to you, to establish alliance and peace with you, and to have us enrolled among your allies and friends.” 21 And the proposal pleased the Romans.

22 This is the copy of the letter which they wrote back on tablets of bronze and sent to Jerusalem, to remain there with the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:

23 “May it go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews, by sea and by land, forever; and may sword and enemy be far from them. 24 If war comes first upon Rome, or upon any of her allies anywhere in her dominion, 25 the nation of the Jews shall fight beside them wholeheartedly, as the occasion directs them; 26 and to those making war they shall neither give nor supply grain, arms, money, or ships. So Rome has decided. And they shall keep their obligations, taking nothing in return. 27 In the same way, if war comes first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall fight beside them with a will, as the occasion directs them; 28 and to those fighting against them there shall be given neither grain, arms, money, nor ships. So Rome has decided. And they shall keep these obligations, and keep them without deceit. [c] 29 On these terms the Romans have made agreement with the Jewish people. 30 If after these terms are in force both sides decide to add or subtract anything, they may do so at their own choice, and whatever they add or subtract shall stand. 31 And concerning the wrongs that King Demetrius is doing to them, we have written to him, saying: ‘Why have you made your yoke heavy on our friends and allies the Jews? 32 If they appeal against you again, we will uphold their rights and make war on you by sea and by land.’”