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,
22. and this is a copy of the reply they inscribed on bronze tablets and sent to Jerusalem, to remain there with the Jews as a record of peace and alliance:
23. “May it be well with the Romans and the Jewish nation at sea and on land forever; may sword and enemy be far from them.
24. But if war is first made on Rome, or any of its allies in any of their dominions,
25. the Jewish nation will fight along with them wholeheartedly, as the occasion shall demand;
26. and to those who wage war they shall not give or provide grain, weapons, money, or ships, as seems best to Rome. They shall fulfill their obligations without receiving any recompense.
27. In the same way, if war is made first on the Jewish nation, the Romans will fight along with them willingly, as the occasion shall demand,
28. and to those who attack them there shall not be given grain, weapons, money, or ships, as seems best to Rome. They shall fulfill their obligations without deception.