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.
29. On these terms the Romans have made an agreement with the Jewish people.