“Therefore, though we have no need of these things,
Since we have as encouragement
The holy books that are in our hands.
We have undertaken to send
To renew our family ties and friendship with you,
So that we may not become estranged from you.
Considerable time has passed
Since you sent your letter to us.
We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion,
Both in our festivals and on other appropriate days,
At the sacrifices which we offer
And in our prayers,
As it is right and proper to remember brothers.
We rejoice in your glory.
But as for ourselves,
Many trials and many wars have encircled us.
The kings around us have waged war against us.
We were unwilling to annoy you
And our other allies and friends with these wars.
We have the help that comes from Heaven for our aid.
We were delivered from our enemies.
Our enemies were humbled.
We therefore have chosen Numenius son of Antiochus
And Antipater son of Jason,
We have sent them to Rome to renew our former friendship
And alliance with them.
We have commanded them to go also to you,
To greet you
To deliver to you this letter from us
Concerning the renewal of our family ties.
Now please send us a reply to this.”
Jonathan’s letter continued to remind them that they relied on their holy books, which would have been the law, Torah, and the prophets. Nevertheless, Jonathan thought that it was time to renew their alliance and friendship. Almost a century and a half had passed without any renewal. During this time, they had remembered the Spartans in their prayers and festivals. Funny, this is the first mention of the Spartans. The Jews have had some problems, but their aid from heaven has helped them to defeat their enemies on every side. He was sending Numenius and Antipater to Rome to renew their friendship. However, he also wanted to renew the family ties with the Spartans. Jonathan also wanted a reply from them.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 