15 Instead, they have built a meeting house where 320 senators meet each day to pass good laws for ruling their nation.
16 Every year, the Romans elect one man to govern them and the countries under their control. Everyone obeys this ruler, and no one is ever jealous of him.
17-18 Judas 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.
19 After 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.”
21 The Romans liked what Eupolemus and Jason said,
22 and 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: