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.
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.
5. This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6. “Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people send greetings to their brothers the Spartans.
7. Long ago a letter was sent to the high priest Onias from Arius, who then reigned over you, stating that you are our brothers, as the attached copy shows.
8. Onias welcomed the envoy with honor and received the letter, which spoke clearly of alliance and friendship.
9. Though we have no need of these things, since we have for our encouragement the holy books that are in our possession,
10. we have ventured to send word to you for the renewal of brotherhood and friendship, lest we become strangers to you; a long time has passed since you sent your message to us.
11. We, on our part, have unceasingly remembered you in the sacrifices and prayers that we offer on our feasts and other appropriate days, as it is right and proper to remember brothers.
12. We likewise rejoice in your renown.
13. But many tribulations and many wars have beset us, and the kings around us have attacked us.
14. We did not wish to be troublesome to you and to the rest of our allies and friends in these wars.
15. For we have the help of Heaven for our support, and we have been saved from our enemies, and our enemies have been humbled.
16. So we have chosen Numenius, son of Antiochus, and Antipater, son of Jason, and we have sent them to the Romans to renew with them the friendship and alliance of earlier times.
17. We have also ordered them to come to you and greet you, and to deliver to you our letter concerning the renewal of our brotherhood.
18. Therefore kindly send us an answer on this matter.”
19. This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Onias: