16 It was heard at Romai that Yonatan (Jonathan) was dead, and even in Sparta, and they were exceedingly grieved. 17 But as soon as they heard that his brother Shim’on (Simon) was made high priest in his place, and ruled the country and the cities in it, 18 they wrote to him on brass tablets to renew with him the friendship and the alliance which they had confirmed with his brothers Yehudah (Judas) and Yonatan. 19 These were read before the congregation at Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

20 This is the copy of the letters which the Spartans sent:

“The rulers and the city of the Spartans, to Shim’on the high priest, to the elders, the priests, and the rest of the people of the Yehudim (Jews), our kindred, greetings. 21 The ambassadors who were sent to our people reported to us about your glory and honour. We were glad for their coming, 22 and we registered the things that were spoken by them in the public records[fn] as follows: ‘Numenios son of Antiokos (Antiochus), and Antipater son of Yason, the Yehudim’ ambassadors, came to us to renew the friendship they had with us. 23 It pleased the people to entertain the men honourably, and to put the copy of their words in the public records,[fn] to the end that the people of the Spartans might have a record of them. Moreover they wrote a copy of these things to Shim’on the high priest.’ ”

24 After this, Shim’on sent Numenios to Romai with a great shield of gold of weighing one thousand minas,[fn] in order to confirm the alliance with them.