14 We were not minded therefore to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars;
15 for we have the help which is from heaven to help us, and we have been delivered from our enemies, and our enemies have been brought low.
16 We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy.
17 We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of friendship and our brotherhood.
18 And now you⌃ shall do well if you⌃ give us an answer thereto.
19 And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:
20 Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greeting: