1 Maccabees, Chapter 8
17
[Now Judas had heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were powerful and received all who came to them.] So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance with them,[fn]
18
and that they might take off from them the yoke of the Greeks, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.
19
And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:
20
Judas Maccabeus, and his brothers, and the people of the Jews, have sent us to you⁺ to make an alliance and peace with you⁺, and that we may be registered your⁺ confederates and friends.
21
And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22
And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back, engraved in tablets of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace and alliance.[fn]
23
GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by sea and by land, forever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
24
But if there comes first any war on the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
25
The nation of the Jews will help them according as the time directs, with all their heart.
26
Neither will they give them, while they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or silver, or ships, as it has seemed good to the Romans: and they will obey their orders, without taking anything of them.
27
In like manner also if war comes first on the nation of the Jews, the Romans will help them with all their heart, according as the time permits them.
28
And there will not be given to them who come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or silver, or ships, as it has seemed good to the Romans: and they will observe their orders without deceit.
29
According to these terms the Romans made a covenant with the people of the Jews.
30
And, if after this, one party or the other has a mind to add to these terms, or take away anything, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatever they add, or take away, will be ratified.
31
Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius the king has done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why have you made your yoke heavy on our friends and allies, the Jews?
32
If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of you, we will do them justice, and will make war against you by sea and land.
Footnotes
17
The preceding section (8:1-16) contains a description of the Romans that includes numerous factual errors about Roman history and governance, reflecting the limited knowledge of a writer far from Rome. It is not included here. The bracketed text at the beginning of this verse is an editorial summary of verse 1, provided for narrative context.
22
The treaty text is considered authentic by scholars. Josephus preserves the same treaty in Antiquities 12.414-419.
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