1. And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.
2. And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner.
3. And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent us, to renew for them the friendship and the confederacy, as in former time.
4. And they gave them letters to the men in every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace.
5. And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
6. Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their brethren the Spartans, greeting:
7. Even before this time were letters sent to Onias the high priest from Arius, who was reigning among you, to signify that you⌃ are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten shows.
8. And Onias entreated honorably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship.
9. Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, having for our encouragement the holy books which are in our hands,