Jews’ Rights and Allowances

14.223–228, 259–264

Hyrcanus also sent one of these ambassadors to Dolabella, who was then the governor of Asia, requesting that he exempt the Jews from military service and permit them to observe their ancestral customs, to live according to them. And when Dolabella received Hyrcanus’s letter, without any further deliberation, he sent a letter to all the Asiatics, and particularly to the city of the Ephesians, the metropolis of Asia, about the Jews. A copy of the letter reads as follows:

“When Artermon was prytanis,¹ on the first day of the month of Leneon, Dolabella, imperator, to the Senate, magistrates, and the people of Ephesus: Greeting. Alexander, the son of Theodorus, the ambassador of Hyrcanus, the son of Alexander, the high priest and ethnarch of the Jews, has explained to me that his countrymen cannot serve in the military because they are not allowed to bear arms or travel on the Sabbath, nor can they procure themselves the sorts of foods that they have been accustomed to eating from the times of their forefathers. I, therefore, as the former governors have done, grant them exemption from military service and assent to their observing their ancestral customs, and their assembling together for sacred and religious purposes, as their law requires, and for collecting oblations necessary for sacrifices, and it is my will that you write this to the several cities under your jurisdiction.”

And these were the concessions that Dolabella made to our nation when Hyrcanus sent an embassy to him. But the decree of the consul Lucius Lentulus ran as follows: “I have at my tribunal exempted those Jews who are citizens of Rome and follow the Jewish religious rites, and yet live at Ephesus, from military service on account of their religious sentiments. [ . . . ]”

The decree concerning the people of Sardis: “This decree was enacted by the Senate and people upon the proposal of the praetors:² Whereas those Jews who are fellow citizens and live with us in this city have consistently maintained many great benefits by the people, and have now entered the Senate and demanded of the people that, upon the restitution of their law and their liberty by the Senate and people of Rome, they may assemble together, according to their ancestral custom, and that we will not bring any suit against them about it; and that a place may be given to them where they may have their congregations, with their wives and children, and may offer, as did their forefathers, their prayers and sacrifices to God. Now the Senate and people have decreed to permit them to assemble together on the days formerly appointed, and to act according to their own laws; and that such a place be set apart for them by the praetors for them to build and inhabit as they consider fit for that purpose; and that those responsible for the provision of the city take care that the sorts of food they consider fit to eat may be imported into the city.”

The decree concerning the people of Ephesus: “When Menophilus was prytanis, on the first day of the month of Artemision, this decree was made by the people: Nicanor, the son of Euphemus, pronounced it, upon the representation of the praetors. Since the Jews that dwell in this city have petitioned Marcus Julius Pompeius, the son of Brutus, the proconsul, that they might be allowed to observe their Sabbaths and to act in all things according to their ancestral customs, without interference from anyone, the praetor has granted their petition. Accordingly, it was decreed by the Senate and people that in this affair that concerned the Romans none of them should be hindered from keeping the Sabbath day, nor be fined for so doing, but that they be allowed to do all things according to their own laws.” [ . . . ]

16.167–168

And Agrippa himself also wrote on behalf of the Jews in the following manner: “Agrippa, to the magistrates, Senate, and people of Ephesus, sends greeting. It is my will that the care and custody of the sacred funds that are brought back to the Temple at Jerusalem be left to the Jews of Asia, to do with according to their ancestral customs. I further will that those who steal the sacred money of the Jews and flee for asylum at a sanctuary be dragged away and handed over to the Jews, by the same law that temple robbers are dragged away. I have also written to Sylvanus the praetor that no one compel the Jews to come before a judge on the Sabbath day.”