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Here is a copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:
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"Jonathan the High Priest, the national council of leaders, the priests, and the rest of the people of Judea, to our brothers in Sparta, greetings.
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At an earlier time, your King Arius sent a letter to our High Priest Onias, stating that our two nations are related, as the attached copy shows.
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Onias received your ambassador with full honors and acknowledged receipt of your letter, which declared our alliance and friendship.
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And now, although we are not in need of such alliances, since we find our source of strength in the holy books we possess,