17 So Yehudah chose Eupolemos the son of Yohan (John), the son of Hakots, and Yason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Romai, to establish friendship and alliance with them, 18 and that they should free the yoke from themselves; for they saw that the kingdom of the Hellains (Greeks) kept Yisrael (Israel) in bondage. 19 Then they went to Romai, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said, 20 “Yehudah, who is also called Makabi (Maccabaeus), and his kindred, and the people of the Yehudim (Jews), have sent us to you, to make an alliance and peace with you, and that we might be registered as your allies and friends.”

21 This thing was pleasing to them. 22 This is the copy of the writing which they wrote back again on tables of brass, and sent to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), that it might be with them there for a memorial of peace and alliance:

23 “Good success be to the Romaios, and to the nation of the Yehudim, by sea and by land forever. May the sword and the enemy be far from them. 24 But if war arises for Romai first, or any of their allies in all their dominion, 25 the nation of the Yehudim shall help them as allies, as the occasion shall indicate to them, with all their heart. 26 To those who make war upon them, they shall not give supplies, food, weapons, money, or ships, as it has seemed good to Romai, and they shall keep their ordinances without taking anything in return. 27 In the same way, moreover, if war comes first upon the nation of the Yehudim, the Romaios shall willingly help them as allies, as the occasion shall indicate to them; 28 and to those who are fighting with them, there shall not be given food, weapons, money, or ships, as it has seemed good to Romai. They shall keep these ordinances, and that without deceit. 29 According to these terms, the Romaios made a treaty with the Jewish people. 30 But if hereafter the one party and the other shall determine to add or diminish anything, they shall do it at their pleasure, and whatever they add or take away shall be ratified.

31 Concerning the evils which King Demetrios is doing to them, we have written to him, saying, ‘Why have you made your yoke heavy on our friends and allies the Yehudim? 32 If therefore they plead any more against you, we will do them justice, and fight with you on sea and on land.’ ”