1st Maccabees Chapter 8

A eulogy of the Romans

8:1 Now Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here had heard that the Romans, were strong and brave men, and such as would respectfully accept all that allied with them them, and make an alliance of cooperation with all that came to them;
8:2 And that they were men of great bravery. He was also informed of their wars and noble deeds that they had done among the Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute;
8:3 And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold that is there;
8:4 And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all the country, though it was very far from them; and the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, till they had unnerved them, and conquered them, so that the others gave them a yearly tribute:
8:5 Beside this, how they had unnerved in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Kittim, with others that rose up themselves against them, and had defeated them:
8:6 How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against them in battle, having one hundred twenty elephants, with cavalry, and chariots, and a very great army, was alarmed by them;
8:7 And how they took him alive, and pledged that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and surrender hostages, and all that was agreed on,
8:8 And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the best countries, which they took from him, and gave to king Eumenes:
8:9 Then how the Greeks were intent on to coming and destroying them;
8:10 And that they, having knowledge of it sent against them single general, and fighting with them killed many of them, and carried away captives their wives and their children, and plundered them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled down their fortresses, and brought them to be their servants to present day:
8:11 He heard besides that, how they destroyed and brought under their rule all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them;
8:12 But with their friends and those that relied on them they kept harmony: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and near, in so far as all that heard their name were terrified of them:
8:13 Also that, one man they would help rule a kingdom; and who they would remove another, that they were highly esteemed:
8:14 Yet for all this not one of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple, to be magnified by that:
8:15 Also how they had made for themselves a senate house, in it three hundred twenty men sat in council daily, consulting always for the people, so that they might be well ordered:
8:16 And that they entrusted their government to one man every year, who ruled over all their country, and that all were obedient to that one, and that there was neither envy or emulation among them.

The alliance between the Jews and the Romans

8:17 In consideration of these things, Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome, to make an alliance of friendship and confederacy with them,
8:18 And to ask them that they would take the burden from them; because they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks did oppress Israel with enslavement.
8:19 They went for that reason to Rome, which was a very long journey, and came to the senate, where they spoke and said.
8:20 Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here Maccabeus with his brothers, and the people of the Jews, have sent us to you, to cut a covenant and peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and friends.
8:21 So this pleased the Romans very much.
8:22 And this is the copy of the letter which the senate wrote back on tables of bronze, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have by them a memorial of peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here and confederacy:
8:23 Great prosperity to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land forever: may the sword and enemy be far from them,
8:24 If there first comes any war on the Romans or any of their confederates throughout all their sovereignty,
8:25 The people of the Jews will help them, as the time will be arranged, with all their heart:
8:26 Neither will they give anything to those that make war on them, or aid them with food, weapons, money, or ships, as it has seemed good to the Romans; but they will keep their covenants without taking anything for that reason.
8:27 In the same way also, if war first comes  on the nation of the Jews, then the Romans will help them with all their heart, according as the time shall be arranged:
8:28 Neither will food be given to them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it has seemed good to the Romans; but they will keep their covenants, and that without deceit.
8:29 According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.
8:30 However if after this the one party or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish anything, they may do it at their pleasures, and whatever they shall add or take away shall be confirmed.
8:31 And as affecting the evils that Demetrius does to the Jews, we have written to him, saying, For what reason do you make your yoke heavy on our friends and confederates the Jews?
8:32 If for that reason they complain any more against you, we will do them justice, and fight with you by sea and by land.