15 And Numenius and his company came from Rome, having letters to the kings, and to the countries, wherein were written these things:

16 ‘Lucius, consul of the Romans, unto king Ptolemy, greeting: 17 The Jews’ ambassadors came unto us (as) our friends and confederates, to renew the old friendship and confederacy, being sent from Simon the high-priest, 18 tand from the people of the Jewst; moreover, they brought a shield of gold of a thousandu poundv. 19 It pleased us, therefore, to write unto the kings and unto the countries, wthat they should not seek their hurt, nor fight against themw, xand their cities, and their countryy, nor be confederates with such as fight against themx. 20 And it seemed good to us to accept the shield from them. 21 If, therefore, any pestilent fellows should have fled from their country unto you, deliver them unto Simon the high-priest, that he may take vengeance on them according to their law.’

22 And the same things wrote he to Demetrius the king, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathesz, and to Arsaces, 23 and unto all the countries, and to Sampsamesa, and to the Spartans, and unto Delos, and unto Myndos, and unto Sicyon, and unto Carlab, and unto Samos, and unto Pamphylia, and unto Lycia, and unto Halicarnassus, and unto Rhodes, and unto Phaselis, and unto Cos, and unto Side, and unto Aradus, and Gortyna, and Cnidus, and Cyprus and Cyrenec. 24 And a copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high-priest.

15:25–41. Antiochus VIII breaks his covenant with Simon.