1 Maccabees

Judas Forms an Alliance with Rome

In the meantime, Judas was informed about the Romans. He was told that the Romans were renowned for their valiantness in war. They showed goodwill towards all who sided with them and offered friendship to all who approached them.

They were a strong ally in war. He was told of their wars and of their exploits among the Gauls, whom they conquered and forced to pay taxes;

and of all they had done in Spain to gain possession of the silver and gold mines;

and how they had conquered that land by dint of intelligence and perseverance, despite its great distance from their land. He also learned how they had defeated the kings who came from the ends of the earth to attack them and how they managed to conquer and crush them. Others paid them an annual tax.

They had defeated and subjected Philip and Perseus, the kings of Macedonia, and others who opposed them.

They had vanquished Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight the Romans with one hundred and twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots, and a mighty army. But he was defeated

and fell into their hands. He and his successors were forced to pay an enormous amount in taxes, surrender hostages, and cede some of their best provinces,

such as India, Media, and Lydia, which the Romans later gave to King Eumenes.

The Greeks had planned to come and destroy the Romans,

but hearing of it, the Romans sent a single general against them. They killed a great number of Greeks, took their women and children, destroyed their fortresses, and enslaved them to this day.

In the same way, they destroyed and subdued other countries, islands, and others who opposed them.

But they have usually remained faithful to their allies and those who relied on them. The Romans were mighty. They conquered kingdoms far and near, and all who heard their name feared them.

They appointed kings to their liking and deposed those who were not.

But despite all this, not one had himself crowned or dressed as a king to be exalted.

They had created a senate, and daily, three hundred and twenty men deliberated on matters relating to the good of the people and the maintenance of order.

Every year, they would choose one man to rule over them and govern the empire, and all obeyed him without envy or jealousy.

So, Judas sent Eupolemus, the son of John, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, to Rome, entrusting them with the mission of making a covenant of friendship with the Romans.

Since the Greeks treated the Israelites as slaves, Judas hoped to liberate them from oppression in this way.

The envoys from Judas went to Rome, where they arrived after a long journey. When they entered the Senate, they addressed the assembly:

“Judas Maccabeus, his brothers and the people of Israel, have sent us to you to conclude a covenant of peace with you, and to be numbered among your allies and friends.”

The Romans approved this proposal.

This is a copy of the letter they wrote on bronze tablets, which they sent to Jerusalem as a memorial of peace and alliance:

“May all go well with the Romans and the Jewish people, at sea and on land, forever. May both sword and enemy be far from them!

If war comes first to the Romans or any of their allies in any part of their empire,

the Jewish nation shall enter the war wholeheartedly, as circumstances permit.

The Jewish nation will not receive wheat, weapons, money, or ships from them. As Rome has decided, they shall fulfill their obligations without compensation.

Similarly, if the Jewish nation is attacked, the Romans shall fight at her side with all zeal, as circumstances may allow.

The Roman allies would not receive wheat, weapons, money, or ships. As Rome has decided, the Romans shall fulfill their obligations without deception.

The Romans concluded their alliance with the Jewish nation on these terms.

If, after these terms have taken effect, either party wishes to add or delete anything, the said party shall do so in joint agreement with the other party; then what has been added or deleted shall be binding.

And concerning the harm King Demetrius does to the Jews, we have written to him as follows, ‘Why do you lay such a heavy yoke upon the Jews, our friends, and allies?

If they complain about you again, we shall defend their rights and attack you by sea and land.’”