1 Maccabees 12:1

Alliances with Rome and Sparta

1 When Jonathan felt that the time was favorable, he chose envoys and sent them to Rome in order to confirm and renew friendship with them.

1 Maccabees 12:1 In-Context

1 When Jonathan felt that the time was favorable, he chose envoys and sent them to Rome in order to confirm and renew friendship with them.

2 He also sent letters in the same vein to the Spartans and to others.

3 The envoys went to Rome and entered the senate chamber. They said, "Jonathan the high priest and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew our former friendship and alliance."

4 The Romans provided letters for them to give to various people to ask them to assure the envoys safe passage back to Judah.

5 This is a copy of the letter that Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: