10. the Romans discovered it, and sent against the Greeks a single general who made war on them. Many were wounded and fell, and the Romans took their wives and children captive. They plundered them, took possession of their land, tore down their strongholds and reduced them to slavery even to this day.
11. All the other kingdoms and islands that had ever opposed them they destroyed and enslaved; with their friends, however, and those who relied on them, they maintained friendship.
12. They subjugated kings both near and far, and all who heard of their fame were afraid of them.
13. Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings; and those whom they wish, they depose; and they were greatly exalted.
14. Yet with all this, none of them put on a diadem or wore purple as a display of grandeur.
15. But they made for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred and twenty men took counsel, deliberating on all that concerned the people and their well-being.
16. They entrust their government to one man every year, to rule over their entire land, and they all obey that one, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.
17. So Judas chose Eupolemus, son of John, son of Accos, and Jason, son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance with them.
18. He did this to lift the yoke from Israel, for it was obvious that the kingdom of the Greeks was subjecting them to slavery.
19. After making a very long journey to Rome, the envoys entered the senate chamber and spoke as follows:
20. “Judas, called Maccabeus, and his brothers, with the Jewish people, have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, and to be enrolled among your allies and friends.”
21. The proposal pleased the Romans,