1 Maccabees 12:1–23

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. And to the Spartans, and to other places, he sent letters after the same manner. And they went unto 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.’ And they gave them letters unto ⁽the governors⁽ of every place, that they should bring them on their way to the land of Judah in peace. And this is the copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: ‘Jonathan the high-priest, and the Council of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, unto their brethren the Spartans, greeting! Even before this time were letters sent unto Onias the high-priest from Areios, who was reigning among you, ⁽to the effect⁽ that ye are our brethren, as the copy ⁽here⁽ underwritten showeth. And Onias treated honourably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship. Therefore we also—albeit we need none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books which are in our hands—have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether; for long time is passed since ye sent unto us. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both at our feasts, and on other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as it is right and meet to be mindful of brethren; and, moreover, we are glad for your glory. But as for ourselves, many afflictions and many wars have encompassed us, and the kings that are round about us have fought against us. We were not minded, however, to be troublesome to you, or to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars; for we have the help that is from heaven to help us,and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been humiliated. We chose, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent ⁽them⁽ unto the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy. We commanded them, therefore, to go also unto you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing ⁽of friendship⁽ and of our brotherhood. And now ye shall do well if ye give us an answer thereto.’ And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias: ‘Areios, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the chief priest, greeting! It hath been found in writing, concerning the Spartans and the Jews, that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham; and now, since these things have come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity. And we, moreover, do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command, therefore, that they make report unto you on this wise.’