1. Now Judas heard about the Romans’ reputation for being strong and loyal to all who made an alliance with them. They pledged friendship to those who came to them.
2. They were very powerful. Judas had been told of their wars and of the brave deeds that they were doing among the Gauls—how they had defeated them and forced them to pay tribute.
3. He was told what they had done in Spain to get control of the silver and gold mines there.