Jonathan Confirms Friendship with Rome

Jonathan, having therefore achieved a glorious victory and killed two thousand of the enemy, returned to Jerusalem. So when he saw that all his affairs were succeeding, in his view, through the providence of God, he sent ambassadors to the Romans, being desirous of renewing that friendship which their nation had with them formerly. He enjoined the same ambassadors that, on their way back from Rome, they should go to the Spartans, and remind them of their friendship and kinship with one another. So when the ambassadors came to Rome, they came forward in their Senate to speak what they were commanded by Jonathan the high priest to say, how he had sent them to confirm their friendship. The Senate then confirmed what had been formerly decreed concerning their friendship with the Jews, and gave them letters to convey to all the kings of Asia and Europe, and to the governors of the cities, that they might safely conduct them to their own country.

Translated by William Whiston, adapted by Aaron Samuels.