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: