1 Maccabees 12:1–23

Now when Jonathan saw that the time served him, he chose ^acertain men, and sent them to ^aRome, for to confirm and renew ^bthe friendship that they had with them. ²He sent letters also to ^bbthe Lacedemonians, and to other places, for the same purpose. ³So they went unto ^aRome, and ^centered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end you should renew the friendship, which you had with them, and league, as in former time. ⁴Upon this the Romans gave them letters unto the governors of every place, that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably. ⁵And this is the copy of the letters ^dwhich Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:

⁶Jonathan the high priest, and ^ethe elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other people of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting: ⁷There were letters sent in times past unto ^fOnias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that you are our brethren, as ^gthe copy here underwritten doth specify. ⁸At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein ^hdeclaration was made of the league and friendship. ⁹Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, for that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands ⁱto comfort us, ¹⁰have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent unto us. ¹¹We therefore at all times ^jwithout ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren: ¹²and we are right glad of your honour. ¹³As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us. ¹⁴Howbeit we would not ^kbe troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars: ¹⁵for we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot. ¹⁶For this cause we chose ^kkNumenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league. ¹⁷We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute you and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood. ¹⁸Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto. ¹⁹And this is ^lthe copy of the letters which Oniares sent. ²⁰Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting: ²¹It is found in writing, that ^llthe Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham: ²²now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, you shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity. ²³We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our’s, and our’s are your’s. We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.