The Friendship of Antiochus the Great to the Jews

Josephus

Jewish Antiquities 12.147–153

93–94

Now he [Antiochus III, r. 222–187 BCE] wrote bearing witness to us, with respect to both our piety and loyalty, right at the time when he was at the upper satrapies, when he had learned of seditions arising in the regions of Lydia and Phrygia. So he commanded Zeuxis, his general and among his closest friends, to deploy some of our people from Babylon to Phrygia. And his correspondence read as follows:

“King Antiochus to Zeuxis his father, greetings!

“If you are in good health, it is well. I also am in good health. Having been informed of the uprisings in Lydia and Phrygia, I believe this situation demands my urgent attention. On the advice of my friends regarding what must be done, I have decided to convey two thousand Jewish households, along with their effects, out of Mesopotamia and Babylon and to the garrisons and necessary places. For I have confidence that they will be well-disposed guardians of our possessions, because of their piety toward God and because I know that my predecessors have borne witness that they are loyal and do what is required of them with zeal. It is my will, therefore—although it is a troublesome matter—that you transport these Jews, under a promise that they shall be permitted to practice their own laws. And when you have brought them to the aforementioned places, you shall grant each of their families a place for building their houses and a portion of the land for their husbandry and for the plantation of their vines, and you shall exempt them from paying taxes on the fruits of the earth for ten years, and let them have a proper quantity of grain for the maintenance of their servants until they receive food from the earth. Also, let a sufficient share be given to any who minister to them in the essentials of life, that by enjoying the effects of our humanity they may show themselves the more willing and ready about our affairs. Take care likewise with respect to that nation, as far as you are able, to ensure that they not be harassed by anyone.”

Now, let these testimonials that I have produced be sufficient to declare the friendship of Antiochus the Great to the Jews.

Translated by William Whiston, adapted by Aaron Samuels.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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Ancient Jewish Communities of the Diaspora

2nd Century BCE–6th Century CE

Creator Bio

Josephus

37–100

Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

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