17. Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John and grandson of Accos, and Jason son of Eleazar and sent them to Rome to make a treaty of friendship and alliance with the Romans.
18. He did this to get rid of Syrian oppression, since the Jews clearly saw that they were being reduced to slavery.
19. After a long and difficult journey, Eupolemus and Jason reached Rome and entered the Senate. They addressed the assembly in these terms:
20. “Judas Maccabaeus, his brothers, and the Jewish people have sent us here to make a mutual defence treaty with you, so that we may be officially recorded as your friends and allies.”
21. The Romans accepted the proposal,
22. and what follows is a copy of the letter which was engraved on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem to remain there as a record of the treaty:
23. “May things go well for ever for the Romans and for the Jewish nation on land and sea! May they never have enemies, and may they never go to war!
24. But if war is declared first against Rome or any of her allies anywhere,