JONATHAN MACCABEUS’ LETTER TO THE SPARTANS

1 Maccabees 12- 5-11 – Letter to the Spartans

The intent of this letter was to renew an alliance with the Spartan. It
mentions the “senate” (Gerousia) of the Jewish nation as distinct
from the high priest, the priests, and the rest of the people.

5 Here is a copy of the letter Jonathan wrote to the Spartans:

6 Jonathan the High Priest, the national council of leaders, the

priests, and the rest of the people of Judea, to our brothers in Sparta,
greetings. 7 At an earlier time, your King Arius sent a letter to our
High Priest Onias, stating that our two nations are related, as the
attached copy shows.8 Onias received your ambassador with full
honours and acknowledged receipt of your letter, which declared our
alliance and friendship. 9 And now, although we are not in need of
such alliances, since we find our source of strength in the holy books
we possess, 10 we have written to renew our ties of brotherhood
and friendship with you. We do not wish to become total strangers,
and it has now been many years since your last communication. 11
Throughout the years we have taken every opportunity, on our
festival days and other suitable days, to remember you when we
have offered our sacrifices and made our prayers, as it is fitting and
proper for brothers to do. 12 Furthermore, we rejoice at your success.
13
As for us, we have experienced many trials and many wars. The
kings around us have waged war against us. 14 We have not wanted
to bother you and our other allies and friends about these
wars 15 because we have the help that comes from heaven. So we
have been delivered from our enemies, and they have been
humbled. 16 Therefore, we chose Numenius, Antiochus’ son, and
Antipater, Jason’s son, and sent them to Rome to renew our former
friendship and alliance with them. 17 We have told them to go to you
as well and greet you and deliver to you this letter from us
concerning the renewal of our family ties. 18 So please send us a
reply.
19
This is a copy of the letter that they sent to Onias:
20
King Arius of the Spartans.

To the high priest Onias. Greetings!

21
It has been discovered in a written record that the Spartans and
the Jews are relatives and are both of the family of Abraham. 22 Since
we have learned this, please let us know how you are. 23 On our part,
we write to let you know that what is yours—your livestock and
property—belongs to us, and ours belongs to you. We therefore
command that our envoys report to you in keeping with this.