10. and the senate and Judas The senate, or council of elders (gerousia), is mentioned here and there in the sources,13 but our knowledge of it is almost nil. As for “Judas,” we must assume that the author means Judah Maccabee, but it is unclear whether this letter is authentically his, or even grew out of some authentic core. 10. Aristobulus … teacher of Ptolemy the king It is noteworthy that the Palestinian author gives the king no byname; what does he care if the reference is to Ptolemy Philadelphus,