10. Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us.
11. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days, wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet, and becoming to remember brethren.
12. And we rejoice at your glory.
13. But we have had many troubles and wars on every side, and the kings that are round about us, have fought against us.
14. But we would not be troublesome to you, nor the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.
15. For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, and our enemies are humbled.
16. We have chosen therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the former amity and alliance.
17. And we have commanded them to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18. And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto.
19. And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias:
20. Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the high priest, greeting.
21. It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.
22. And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to write to us of your prosperity.
23. And we also have written back to you: That our cattle, and our possessions are yours: and yours, ours. We therefore have commanded that these things should be told you.
24. Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come again with a greater army than before to fight against him.
25. So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country.
26. And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.