16. and how they commit their government to one man year by year, that he should rule over them, and be lord over all their country, and all are obedient to that one, and there is neither envy nor emulation among them.
17. And Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy with them,
18. and that they should take the yoke from them; for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks did keep Israel in bondage.
19. And they went to Rome (and the way was exceeding long), and they entered into the senate house, and answered and said,
20. Judas, who is also called Maccabaeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us to you, to make a confederacy and peace with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and friends.
21. And the thing was well-pleasing in their sight.
22. And this is the copy of the writing which they wrote back again on tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of peace and confederacy:
23. Good success be to the Romans, and to the nation of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and the enemy be far from them.
24. But if war arise for Rome first, or any of their confederates in all their dominion,
25. the nation of the Jews shall help them as confederates, as the occasion shall prescribe to them, with all their heart:
26. and to them that make war upon them they shall not give, neither supply, food, arms, money, or ships, as it has seemed good to Rome, and they shall keep their ordinances without taking anything therefore.
27. In the same manner, moreover, if war come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them as confederates with all their soul, as the occasion shall prescribe to them:
28. and to them that are confederates with their foes there shall not be given food, arms, money, or ships, as it has seemed good to Rome; and they shall keep these ordinances, and that without deceit.
29. According to these words have the Romans made a covenant thus with the people of the Jews.
30. But if hereafter the one party and the other shall take counsel to add or diminish anything, they shall do it at their pleasure, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be established.
31. And as touching the evils which king Demetrius does to them, we have written to him, saying, Wherefore have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews?
32. If therefore they plead any more against you, we will do them justice, and fight with you by sea and by land.