Chapter 12

Alliances with Rome and Sparta. ¹ When Jonathan saw that the time was right, he chose men and sent them to Rome to confirm and renew the friendship with the Romans.^{(A) 2} He also sent letters to the Spartans and other places to the same effect.

³ After reaching Rome, the men entered the senate chamber and said, “The high priest Jonathan and the Jewish people have sent us to renew the friendship and alliance of earlier times with them.” ⁴ The Romans gave them letters addressed to authorities in various places, with the request to provide them with safe conduct to the land of Judah.

Roman Alliance Renewed. ¹⁵ Meanwhile, Numenius and his companions came from Rome with letters containing this message to various kings and countries:^{(A) 16} “Lucius,^[a] Consul of the Romans, sends greetings to King Ptolemy. ¹⁷ Ambassadors of the Jews, our friends and allies, have come to us to renew their earlier friendship and alliance. They had been sent by Simon the high priest and the Jewish people, ¹⁸ and they brought with them a gold shield of a thousand minas.^{(B) 19} Therefore we have decided to write to various kings and countries, that they are not to venture to harm them, or wage war against them or their cities or their country, and are not to assist those who fight against them. ²⁰ We have also decided to accept the shield from them. ²¹ If, then, any troublemakers from their country take refuge with you, hand them over to Simon the high priest, so that he may punish them according to their law.”

²² The consul sent identical letters to Kings Demetrius, Attalus,^[b] Ariarthes and Arsaces;