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for we have help from heaven that succoreth us, so that we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought underfoot.
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For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans to renew the amity that we had with them and the former league.
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We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute you and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
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Therefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.
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And this is the copy of the letter which Arius sent to Onias.
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Arius, king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:
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It is found in writing that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham.
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Now therefore, since this has come to our knowledge, you shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.
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We write back again to you that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We command, therefore, our ambassadors to make report unto you in this way.
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Now when Jonathan heard that Demetrius' princes had come to fight against him with a greater host than before,
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he removed from Jerusalem and met them in the land of Hamath; for he gave them no respite to enter his country.