1 Maccabees 8:18-20

New Catholic Bible

¹⁸ in the hope that in this way they would escape the yoke, for they could clearly see that the kingdom of the Greeks was reducing Israel to a state of slavery. ¹⁹ Following a very lengthy journey to Rome, the envoys entered the senate chamber and spoke these words: ²⁰ “Judas Maccabeus and his brothers and the Jewish people have sent us to conclude a treaty of alliance and peace with you and to enroll ourselves as your allies and friends.”