Judas hears of the great character of the Romans: he makes a league
with them.
8:1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful
and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of
them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with
them, and that they are mighty in power.
8:2. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they
had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them
under tribute:
They heard, etc.... What is here set down of the history and character
of the ancient Romans, is not an assertion, or affirmation of the
sacred writer: but only a relation of what Judas had heard of them.
8:3. And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that
they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that
are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel
and patience:
8:4. And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and
kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had
overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute
every year.
8:5. And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses the king of
the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had
conquered them:
Ceteans.... That is, the Macedonians.
8:6. And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to fight
against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and
chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them.
8:7. And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he
and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and
that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8:8. And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the
Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken
from them, they gave to king Eumenes.
Eumenes.... King of Pergamus.
8:9. And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and to destroy
them: and they had knowledge thereof,
8:10. And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and
many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives, and their
children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land,
and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto
this day.
8:11. And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had
resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.
8:12. But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept
amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far
off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.
8:13. That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned:
and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were
greatly exalted.
8:14. And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to
be magnified thereby.
8:15. And that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted
daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in council always for the
people, that they might do the things that were right:
8:16. And that they committed their government to one man every year,
to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no
envy nor jealousy amongst them.
To one man.... There were two consuls: but one only ruled at one time,
each in his day.—Ibid. No envy, etc.... So Judas had heard: and it was
so far true, with regard to the ancient Romans, that as yet no envy or
jealousy had divided them into such open factions and civil wars, as
they afterwards experienced in the time of Marius and Sylla, etc.
8:17. So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and
Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of
amity and confederacy with them:
8:18. And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians,
for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.
8:19. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into
the senate house, and said:
8:20. Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews,
have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we
may be registered your confederates and friends.
8:21. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
8:22. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again,
graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with
them there for a memorial of the peace, and alliance.
8:23. GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by
sea, and by land, for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
8:24. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their
confederates, in all their dominions:
8:25. The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time
shall direct, with all their heart:
8:26. Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or
furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed
good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking
any thing of them.
8:27. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of
the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as
the time shall permit them:
8:28. And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid,
either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to
the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.
8:29. According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the
people of the Jews.
8:30. And, if after this, one party or the other shall have a mind to
add to these articles, or take away any thing, they may do it at their
pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be
ratified.
8:31. Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the king, hath
done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made
thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews?
8:32. If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of thee, we will
do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.