20
"Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends."
21
The proposal pleased them,
22
and this is a copy of the letter which they wrote in reply, on bronze tablets, and sent to Jerusalem to remain with them there as a memorial of peace and alliance:
23
"May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at sea and on land for ever, and may sword and enemy be far from them.
24
If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their dominion,