15
for we have the help that comes from Heaven for our aid, and so we were delivered from our enemies, and our enemies were humbled.
16
We therefore have chosen Numenius son of Antiochus and Antipater son of Jason, and have sent them to Rome to renew our former friendship and alliance with them.
17
We have commanded them to go also to you and greet you and deliver to you this letter from us concerning the renewal of our family ties.
18
And now please send us a reply to this."
19
This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Onias:
20
"King Arius of the Spartans, to the high priest Onias, greetings.
21
It has been found in writing concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brothers and are of the family of Abraham.
22
And now that we have learned this, please write us concerning your welfare;
23
we on our part write to you that your livestock and your property belong to us, and ours belong to you. We therefore command that our envoys report to you accordingly."
24
Now Jonathan heard that the commanders of Demetrius had returned, with a larger force than before, to wage war against him.
25
So he marched away from Jerusalem and met them in the region of Hamath, for he gave them no opportunity to invade his own country.