What Judas Heard about the Romans

¹This is what Judas heard about the Romans:

Judas Makes an Agreement with Rome

^17-18Judas realized that he needed to make an agreement with the Romans in order to rescue his people from King Demetrius, who wanted to make them his slaves. So Judas sent Eupolemus and Jason to work out an agreement with them.[#2 Macc 4.11.; #8.17,18 Greek “Eupolemus, the son of John and the grandson of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar.”]

¹⁹After making the long trip to Rome, they met with the Roman senators and said,

²⁰“Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, together with all our people, have sent us, because they want you to make a peace treaty with us Jews and let us be your allies.”

²¹The Romans liked what Eupolemus and Jason said,

²²and they replied by writing a letter on sheets of bronze. They sent the letter to Jerusalem, to serve as a reminder that Rome was a friend and ally. The letter said:[#1 Macc 14.18.]

³¹The Romans also told the Jewish messengers: