Alliance with the Romans
1 ① In the meantime, Judas was in formed about the Romans. He was told that the Romans were valiant in war and that they showed goodwill towards all who sided with them; that they offered friendship to all who approached them, 2and were a strong ally in war.
He was told of their wars and of their exploits among the Gauls whom they conquered and forced to pay taxes, 3and of all they had done in Spain to gain possession of the silver and gold mines, 4and how they had conquered that land by dint of intelligence and perseverance, despite its great distance from their own land. He also learned how they had defeated the kings who came from the ends of the earth to attack them, how they managed to conquer and crush them. There were others who paid them an annual tax.
5They had defeated and subjected Philip and Perseus, the kings of Macedonia and others who opposed them. 6They had vanquished Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight the Romans with one hundred and twenty elephants, cavalry, chariots and a very strong army. But he was defeated 7and fell into their hands. He and his successors were forced to pay an enormous amount in tax, to surrender hostages, and to cede some of their best provinces 8like India, Media and Lydia which afterwards the Romans gave to King Eumenes. 9The Greeks had planned to come and destroy the Romans, 10but hearing of it, the Romans sent a single general against them. They killed a great number of Greeks, took their women and children, destroyed their fortresses and enslaved them to this day.
11In the same way, they also destroyed and subdued other countries and islands, as well as others who opposed them. 12But they have usually remained faithful to their allies and to those who relied on them.
The Romans were really powerful. They conquered kingdoms far and near, and all who heard their name feared them. 13They appointed as kings those who were to their liking and deposed those who were not.
14But in spite of all this, not one of them had himself crowned or dressed as a king in order to be exalted. 15They had created a senate and three hundred and twenty men deliberated on daily matters relating to the good of the people and the maintenance of order. 16Every year they would choose one man to rule over them and govern the empire, and all obeyed him without envy or jealousy.
17So Judas sent Eupolemus the son of John, and Jason the son of Eleazar to Rome, entrusting them with the mission to make a covenant of friendship with the Romans. 18Since the Greeks treated the Israelites as slaves, Judas hoped to liberate them from oppression in this way.
19The envoys from Judas went to Rome, where they arrived after a long journey. When they entered the Senate they addressed the assembly: 20“Judas Maccabeus, his brothers and the people of Israel have sent us to you to conclude a covenant of peace with you and to be numbered among your allies and friends.” 21The Romans approved this proposal, 22and this is the copy of the letter they wrote on bronze tablets which they sent to Jerusalem as a memorial of peace and alliance:
23“May all go well with the Romans and the Jewish people at sea and on land forever, may both sword and enemy be far from them! 24If war comes first to the Romans, or to any of their allies in any part of its empire, 25the Jewish nation shall enter the war wholeheartedly, as circumstances permit. 26The Jewish nation will not receive from them wheat or weapons, or money, or ships as Rome has decided. They must fulfill their obligations without recompense.
27In the same way, if the Jewish nation is attacked, the Romans shall fight at her side with all zeal as circumstances may allow. 28The Roman allies will not receive wheat or weapons, or money, or ships as Rome has decided, but the Romans shall fulfill their obligations without deception. 29On these terms the Romans conclude their alliance with the Jewish nation.
30If after these terms have taken effect, either party should wish to add or delete anything, the said party shall do so in common agreement with the other party, then what has been added or deleted shall be binding.
31And concerning the harm King Demetrius does to the Jews, we have written to him as follows, ‘Why do you lay such a heavy yoke upon the Jews, our friends and allies? 32If they complain about you again, we shall defend their rights and attack you by sea and land.’”
- The prophets insisted on the fact that because the Jewish people were God's people, they had to trust God without seeking any other help. To try to make alliances with the pagan people would have meant to mistrust God. Judas has a different concept and seeks an alliance with the Romans.
The first victories inspired great hope. The Jews never recovered their autonomy since the exile and now, Judas and his companions think that the time to restore the ancient kingdom of Solomon and David has come.
Judas is a great admirer of the organization and the power of the Romans and thinks their protection will lead to the restoration of the kingdom of David.
The prophets were right: those who seek the kingdom of God and justice must not rely on the rich and the powerful. The Romans, whom Judas admires so much, will become enemies. And two centuries later, in Jesus' day, they will destroy the Jewish nation.
