“To the nation the king’s letter was as follows.
‘King Antiochus,
To the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews,
Greetings!
If you are well,
It is as we desire.
We also are in good health.
Menelaus has informed us
That you wish to return home.
You wish to look after your own affairs.
Therefore those who go home
By the thirtieth day of Xanthicus
Will have our pledge of friendship and full permission.
The Jews will enjoy their own food and laws,
Just as formerly,
None of them shall be molested in any way
For what he may have done in ignorance.
I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you.
Farewell.
The one hundred forty-eighth year,
Xanthicus fifteenth.’”
The king once again, like Lysias, ignored Judas Maccabeus. The letter was addressed to the Jewish Senate and all the Jews. In fact, Menelaus, the high priest, is the real intermediary. The king sent his good will through Menelaus, during the 13th day of the month of Xanthicus, March or April, of 164 BCE. He understood that they wanted to take care of their own affairs. He hoped that they were in good health as he was. They could now enjoy their own food and laws without any bother. They could also return to their own lands in the next 2 weeks. He still held out the possibility of further harassment because they might disobey out of ignorance.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 