1 Maccabees 8

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1Mac 8:1 
Now Judas had heard of the the Romans, that they were mighty 
and valiant men, and such as would lovingly accept all that 
joined themselves unto them, and make a league of amity with all 
that came unto them; 
 
1Mac 8:2 
And that they were men of great valour. It was told him also 
of their wars and noble acts which they had done among the 
Galatians, and how they had conquered them, and brought them 
under tribute; 
 
1Mac 8:3 
And what they had done in the country of Spain, for the 
winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there; 
 
1Mac 8:4 
And that by their policy and patience they had conquered all 
the place, though it were very far from them; and the kings also 
that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, 
till they had discomfited them, and given them a great 
overthrow, so that the rest did give them tribute every year: 
 
1Mac 8:5 
Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and 
Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up 
themselves against them, and had overcome them: 
 
1Mac 8:6 
How also Antiochus the great king of Asia, that came against 
them in battle, having an hundred and twenty elephants, with 
horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was discomfited 
by them; 
 
1Mac 8:7 
And how they took him alive, and covenanted that he and such 
as reigned after him should pay a great tribute, and give 
hostages, and that which was agreed upon, 
 
1Mac 8:8 
And the country of India, and Media and Lydia and of the 
goodliest countries, which they took of him, and gave to king 
Eumenes: 
 
1Mac 8:9 
Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy 
them; 
 
1Mac 8:10 
And that they, having knowledge thereof sent against them a 
certain captain, and fighting with them slew many of them, and 
carried away captives their wives and their children, and 
spoiled them, and took possession of their lands, and pulled 
down their strong holds, and brought them to be their servants 
unto this day: 
 
1Mac 8:11 
It was told him besides, how they destroyed and brought under 
their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time 
resisted them; 
 
1Mac 8:12 
But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept 
amity: and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh, 
insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid of them: 
 
1Mac 8:13 
Also that, whom they would help to a kingdom, those reign; 
and whom again they would, they displace: finally, that they 
were greatly exalted: 
 
1Mac 8:14 
Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in 
purple, to be magnified thereby: 
 
1Mac 8:15 
Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate house, 
wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in council daily, 
consulting alway for the people, to the end they might be well 
ordered: 
 
1Mac 8:16 
And that they committed 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 nor 
emmulation among them. 
 
1Mac 8:17 
In consideration of these things, Judas chose Eupolemus the 
son of John, the son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and 
sent them to Rome, to make a league of amity and confederacy 
with them, 
 
1Mac 8:18 
And to intreat them that they would take the yoke from them; 
for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel 
with servitude. 
 
1Mac 8:19 
They went therefore to Rome, which was a very great journey, 
and came into the senate, where they spake and said. 
 
1Mac 8:20 
Judas Maccabeus with his brethren, and the people of the 
Jews, have sent us unto you, to make a confederacy and peace 
with you, and that we might be registered your confederates and 
friends. 
 
1Mac 8:21 
So that matter pleased the Romans well. 
 
1Mac 8:22 
And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote 
back again in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there 
they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy: 
 
1Mac 8:23 
Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, 
by sea and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far 
from them, 
 
1Mac 8:24 
If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their 
confederates throughout all their dominion, 
 
1Mac 8:25 
The people of the Jews shall help them, as the time shall be 
appointed, with all their heart: 
 
1Mac 8:26 
Neither shall they give any thing unto them that make war 
upon them, or aid them with victuals, weapons, money, or ships, 
as it hath seemed good unto the Romans; but they shall keep 
their covenants without taking any thing therefore. 
 
1Mac 8:27 
In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation of 
the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, 
according as the time shall be appointed them: 
 
1Mac 8:28 
Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part 
against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed 
good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and 
that without deceit. 
 
1Mac 8:29 
According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant 
with the people of the Jews. 
 
1Mac 8:30 
Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think 
to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their 
pleasures, and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be 
ratified. 
 
1Mac 8:31 
And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews, 
we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke 
heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews? 
 
1Mac 8:32 
If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do 
them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by land. 
 

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 conquered them, and brought them under tribute:

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:

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.

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 a 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 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.

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 anything, 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.