81 And Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were valiant men, and that they were friendly disposed towards all who attached themselves to them, and that they offered friendshipa to as many as came unto them, band that they were valiant menb. 2 And they told him about their wars and exploits which they had done among the Galatians, and chow they had dconquered themd, and brought them under tribute; 3 and (they told him also of) what things they had done in the land of Spainc, 4 how they had acquired ethe mines of silver and gold theree; fand how that by their policy and persistenceg they had conquered the wholeh land (and the land was exceeding far ifrom themi); also (they told) of the kings that had come against them from the uttermost part of the earth, until they had discomfited themf, and smitten them very sore; and how the rest had given them tribute year by year. 5 Furthermore, (they told) of how they had discomfited in battle kPhilip, landk Perseusl, king of Chittim, and them that lifted themselves up against them, and had conquered them; 6 Antiochus also, the greatm king of Asia, who had come against them to battle, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with cavalry, and chariots, and an exceeding great host,—he had also been discomfited by themn, 7 and they had taken him alive, and had appointed that both he and such as reigned after him should give them a great tributeo and should give hostages, and a ‘tract’ (of land), (namely) the country of India, and Media, and Lydia, and of the goodliest of their countries; and how they had taken them from him, and had given them to king Eumenes. 9 Also (they told of) how they of Greece had purposed to come and destroy them, 10 and the thing had become known to them, and they had sent against them a captain, and had fought against them, and many of them had fallen, pwounded to deathp; and (of how) they had made captive their wives and their children, qand had spoiled them and conquered their land, and had pulled down their strongholdsr q, and had brought them into bondage unto this day. 11 And (they told of) how they had destroyed the residue of the kingdoms sand of the isless, as many as had risen up against themt, and had made them their servants; 12 but that with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity; and (of) how they had conquered the kingdomsu that were nigh and those that were far off, and that all who heard of their fame were afraid of them. 13 Moreover (they told) that whomsoever they will to succour and to make kings, become kingsv; and that whomsoever they will, do they depose; 14 and they are exalted exceedingly; and that for all this none of them did ever put on a diadem, wneither did they clothe themselves with purple, to be magnifiedx therebyy.w 15 (They told) also how they had made for themselves a senate house, and how day by day three hundred zand twentyz men sat in council, consulting alway for the people, to the end that theya might be well ordered; 16 and how they committed their government to one man year by year, that he should be over them, and be lord over allb their country; and that all are obedient to this one, and that there is neither envy nor emulation among them.

17 And Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, 18 to make a league of amity and confederacy cwith themc and that they should take the yoke fromd them, when they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks did keep Israel in bondage. 19 And theye went to Rome, fand the way was exceeding longf; and they entered into the Senate house, gand answeredg hand saidh: 20 ‘Judas, who is also (called) Maccabaeus, and his brethren, and the whole people of the Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered (as) your confederates and friends.’ 21 And the thing was well-pleasing in their sight. 22 And this is the copy of the writingi which they wrote back again on tablets of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, kthat it might be with them therek for a memorial of peace and confederacy:

23 ‘Good success be to the Romans, and to the nation of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever; the sword also and the enemy be far from them. 24 But if war arise for Romel first, mor for any of their confederates in all their dominionm, 25 the nation of the Jews shall help them as confederates as the occasion shall prescribe nto themn, 26 with all their heart; and unto othem that make waro they (i.e. the Jews) pshall not givep, neither supply, food, arms, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto Rome; and they (i.e. the Jews) shall observe their obligations, receiving nothing (in the way of a bribe). qIn the same mannerq, 27 moreover, if war come firstr upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them as confederates with all their soul, 28 as the occasion shall prescribe to them; and to them that are confederatess there shall not be given corn, arms, money, tor shipst, as it hath seemed good unto Romeu; and they shall observe these obligations, and that without deceit.’ 29 xAccording to these words have the Romans made (a treaty) with the people of the Jews. 30 But if hereafter the one party yorz the othery shall determine to add or to diminish anything, they shall do it at their pleasure, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be established. 31 And as touching the evils which kingaa Demetrius doeth bbunto youbb cc, we have written ddto himee sayingdd: ‘Wherefore hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends (and)ff confederates the Jews? 32 If, therefore, they plead any more against thee, we will do them justicegg, and fight thee by sea and by land.’

9:1–22. Death of Judas Maccabaeus.