1 Now Yahuḏah had heard of the Romans, that they were brave and mighty men, and such that would kindly accept all that joined themselves to them, and make a covenant of peace with all that came to them;
2 and that they were men of great courage. To him was also told of their battles and notable deeds which they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute;
3 and what they had done in the country of Spania, in taking the mines of silver and gold which is there;
4 and that by their strategy and patience they had conquered all that place, though it was very far from them; and of the sovereigns that also came against them from the ends of the earth, till they had defeated them, and given them a great overthrow, so that the rest gave them tribute every year.
5 Besides this, how they had defeated Philippos and Perseus, sovereign of the Ḥittites in battle, with others that lifted themselves up against them and had overcome them.
6 Also how Antioḵos the great sovereign of Asia, that came against them in battle, having a hundred and twenty elephants with horsemen and chariots, and a very great army, was defeated by them;
7 and how they took him alive, and made a covenant that he and those that reigned after him should pay a great tribute and give hostages, and that which was agreed upon.
8 And the country of Hodu, and Maḏai and Ludia and of the best lands which they took from him and gave to Sovereign Eumĕnĕs.
9 And how the Yawanites had determined to come and destroy them;
10 and that they, having knowledge of this sent against them a certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and took away captive their wives and their children, and plundered them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their strongholds, and took them to be their servants to this day.
11 It was also told him, how they destroyed and brought under their rule all other reigns and islands that at any time resisted them,
12 but they kept peace with their friends and those that relied upon them; and that they had conquered reigns both far and near, so that all that heard of their name were afraid of them.
13 Also that whom they would assist to reign, those reigned; and again, whom they determined, they displaced. Lastly, that they were greatly exalted,
14 yet for all this, none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be made great by it.
15 And, how they had made for themselves a senate house, in which three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, consulting always for the people, so that they might be well ordered;
16 and that they committed their government to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy nor strife among them.
17 In consideration of these matters, Yahuḏah chose Eupolemus the son of Yoḥanan, the son of Haqqots, and Yason the son of Eli’ezer, and sent them to Rome, to make a covenant of peace and ally with them,
18 and to ask them that they would take the yoke from them; for they saw that the reign of the Yawanites oppressed Yisra’ĕl with bondage.
19 So they went to Rome, which was a very great journey, and came into the senate, where they spoke and said,
20 “Yahuḏah Maqqaḇah with his brothers, and the people of the Yahuḏim, have sent us to you, to make peace and an alliance with you, and that we might be counted your allies and friends.”
21 So that matter pleased the Romans well.
22 And this is the copy of the letter which the senate wrote back again on tablets of bronze, and sent to Yerushalayim, that they would possess a memorial of peace and alliance for them there:
23 “Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Yahuḏim, by sea and by land forever. Also the sword and enemy be far from them.
24 “If there should come first any battle upon the Romans or any of their allies throughout all their reign,
25 the people of the Yahuḏim shall assist them at the appointed time with all their heart.
26 “Neither shall they give whatever to those that fight against them, or aid them with food, weapons, silver, or ships, as it seems good to the Romans; but they shall guard their covenants without taking any for this.
27 “Also in the same manner, if battle should come first upon the nation of the Yahuḏim, the Romans shall assist them with all their heart, according to the time appointed for them.
28 “Neither shall food be given to those that take part against them, or weapons, or silver, or ships, as it seems good to the Romans; but they shall guard their covenants, and that, without deceit.
29 “According to these articles, the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Yahuḏim.
30 “However, if after this, the one party or the other shall think by rights to add or diminish whatever, they may do so at their pleasure, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be consented to.
31 “And regarding the evils that Dĕmĕtrios has done to the Yahuḏim, we have written to him, saying, ‘Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Yahuḏim?
32 ‘If therefore they complain against you any more, we will do right by them, and fight with you by sea and by land.’ ”