1 Maccabees 12:1-3

Common English Bible

Alliances with Rome and Sparta

12 When Jonathan felt that the time was favorable, he chose envoys and sent them to Rome in order to confirm and renew friendship with them. ² He also sent letters in the same vein to the Spartans and to others. ³ The envoys went to Rome and entered the senate chamber. They said, “Jonathan the high priest and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew our former friendship and alliance.”