Now when Jonathan saw that the time served him, he chose certain men, and sent them to Rome, * for to confirm and renew the friendship that they had with them.
cir. 144, XNI »ch. 8. 1,
2 He sent letters also to the Lacedemo
nians, and to other places, for the fame
purpose.
3 So they went unto Rome, and entered into the senate, and said, Jonathan the high priest, and the people of the Jews, sent us unto you, to the end ye should renew the friendship, which ye had with them, and league, as in former time.
4 Upon this the Romans gave them let ters unto the governors of every1 place, that they should bring them into the land of Judea peaceably.
5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians :
6 Jonathan the high priest, and the eld ers of the nation, and the priests, and the other people of the Jews, unto the Lace demonians their brethren fend greeting :
7 There were letters sent in times past
jrtuit unto Onias the high priest from H Darius,
seejoseph. wh0 reigned then among you, to signify . cap. 8. that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
8 At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration 1 or, was made of the I! league and friendship.
9 Therefore we also, albeit we need Antiq.' none of these things, for that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,
10 Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether : for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.
11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other con venient days, do remember you in the sa crifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren :
12 And we are right glad of your honour. XX As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us.
14 Howbeit we would not be trouble some unto you, nor to others of our con federates and friends, in these wars :
15 For we have help from heaven that fuccoureth us, so as we are delivered from eur enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.
Before CHRIST cir. 14+. |j Readout ot Joseph. nvbUb A- reus sent to Oniai. fGr.
16 For this cause we ch»fe Numenius the Jon of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and sent them unto the Ro mans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.
17 We commanded them also to go un to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18 Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.
19 And this is the copy of the letters || which Oniares sent.
20 Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting :
21 It is found in writing, that the Lace demonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham :
22 Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your f prosperity.
23 We do write back again to you, that f'e(TCf' your cattle and goods are our's, and our's are your's. We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this "wise.
24 Now when Jonathan heard" that De metrius' princes were come to fight against him with a greater host than afore,
25 He removed from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of Amathas : for he gave them no respite || to enter his country. Hor,
26 He sent spies also unto their tents, who came again, and told him that they were appointed to come upon them in the night season.
27 Wherefore so soon as the fun was down, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, and to be in arms, that all the night long they might be ready to sight : also he sent forth centinels round about the host.
28 But when the adversaries heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for bat- tle,theyfeared,and trembled in their hearts, and || they kindled fires in their camp. II Jofep^
29 Howbeit Jonathan and his company knew it not till the morning: for they saw the lights burning.
30 Then Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not : for they were gone over the river Eleutherus.
31 Wherefore Jonathan turned to the Arabians, who were called -f- Zabadeans, and smote them, and took their spoils.
32 And removing thence, he came to Damascus, and so passed through all the country.
33 Simon also went forth, and passed through the country unto Alcalon, and the
