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:
20. “Arius, king of the Spartans, sends greetings to Onias the high priest.
21. A document has been found stating that the Spartans and the Jews are brothers and that they are of the family of Abraham.
22. Now that we have learned this, kindly write to us about your welfare.
23. We, for our part, declare to you that your animals and your possessions are ours, and ours are yours. We have, therefore, given orders that you should be told of this.”
24. Then Jonathan heard that the officers of Demetrius had returned to attack him with a stronger army than before.
25. So he set out from Jerusalem and met them in the territory of Hamath, giving them no opportunity to enter his province.
26. The spies he had sent into their camp came back and reported to him that the enemy were preparing to attack them that night.