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October。〃
19。 〃In the month Quntius； when Lucius Lentulus and Caius
Mercellus were consuls； and there were present Titus Appius
Balbus； the son of Titus； lieutenant of the Horatian tribe； Titus
Tongius of the Crustumine tribe； Quintus Resius； the son of
Quintus； Titus Pompeius； the son of Titus； Cornelius Longinus；
Caius Servilius Bracchus； the son of Caius； a military tribune；
of the Terentine tribe； Publius Clusius Gallus； the son of
Publius； of the Veturian tribe； Caius Teutius； the son of Caius；
a milital tribune； of the EmilJan tribe； Sextus Atilius Serranus；
the son of Sextus； of the Esquiline tribe； Caius Pompeius； the
son of Caius； of the Sabbatine tribe； Titus Appius Menander； the
son of Titus； Publius Servilius Strabo； the son of Publius；
Lucius Paccius Capito； the son of Lucius； of the Colline tribe；
Aulus Furius Tertius； the son of Aulus； and Appius Menus。 In the
presence of these it was that Lentulus pronounced this decree： I
have before the tribunal dismissed those Jews that are Roman
citizens； and are accustomed to observe the sacred rites of the
Jews at Ephesus； on account of the superstition they are under。〃
20。 〃The magistrates of the Laodiceans to Caius Rubilius； the son
of Caius； the consul； sendeth greeting。 Sopater； the ambassador
of Hyrcanus the high priest； hath delivered us an epistle from
thee； whereby he lets us know that certain ambassadors were come
from Hyrcanus； the high priest of the Jews； and brought an
epistle written concerning their nation； wherein they desire that
the Jews may be allowed to observe their Sabbaths； and other
sacred rites； according to the laws of their forefathers； and
that they may be under no command； because they are our friends
and confederates； and that nobody may injure them in our
provinces。 Now although the Trallians there present contradicted
them； and were not pleased with these decrees； yet didst thou
give order that they should be observed； and informedst us that
thou hadst been desired to write this to us about them。 We
therefore； in obedience to the injunctions we have received from
thee； have received the epistle which thou sentest us； and have
laid it up by itself among our public records。 And as to the
other things about which thou didst send to us； we will take care
that no complaint be made against us。〃
21。 〃Publius Servilius； the son of Publius； of the Galban tribe；
the proconsul； to the magistrates； senate； and people of the
Mileslans； sendeth greeting。 Prytanes； the son of Hermes； a
citizen of yours； came to me when I was at Tralles； and held a
court there； and informed me that you used the Jews in a way
different from my opinion； and forbade them to celebrate their
Sabbaths； and to perform the Sacred rites received from their
forefathers； and to manage the fruits of the land； according to
their ancient custom； and that he had himself been the promulger
of your decree； according as your laws require： I would therefore
have you know； that upon hearing the pleadings on both sides； I
gave sentence that the Jews should not be prohibited to make use
of their own customs。〃
22。 The decree of those of Pergamus。 〃When Cratippus was
prytanis； on the first day of the month Desius； the decree of the
praetors was this： Since the Romans； following the conduct of
their ancestors； undertake dangers for the common safety of all
mankind； and are ambitious to settle their confederates and
friends in happiness； and in firm peace； and since the nation of
the Jews； and their high priest Hyrcanus； sent as ambassadors to
them； Strato； the son of Theodatus； and Apollonius； the son of
Alexander； and Eneas； the son of Antipater； and Aristobulus； the
son of Amyntas； and Sosipater； the son of Philip； worthy and good
men； who gave a particular account of their affairs； the senate
thereupon made a decree about what they had desired of them； that
Antiochus the king； the son of Antiochus； should do no injury to
the Jews； the confederates of the Romans； and that the
fortresses； and the havens； and the country； and whatsoever else
he had taken from them； should be restored to them； and that it
may be lawful for them to export their goods out of their own
havens； and that no king nor people may have leave to export any
goods； either out of the country of Judea； or out of their
havens； without paying customs； but only Ptolemy； the king of
Alexandria； because he is our confederate and friend； and that；
according to their desire； the garrison that is in Joppa may be
ejected。 Now Lucius Pettius； one of our senators； a worthy and
good man； gave order that we should take care that these things
should be done according to the senate's decree； and that we
should take care also that their ambassadors might return home in
safety。 Accordingly； we admitted Theodorus into our senate and
assembly； and took the epistle out his hands； as well as the
decree of the senate。 And as he discoursed with great zeal about
the Jews； and described Hyrcanus's virtue and generosity； and how
he was a benefactor to all men in common； and particularly to
every body that comes to him； we laid up the epistle in our
public records； and made a decree ourselves； that since we also
are in confederacy with the Romans； we would do every thing we
could for the Jews； according to the senate's decree。 Theodorus
also； who brought the epistle； desired of our praetors； that they
would send Hyrcanus a copy of that decree； as also ambassadors to
signify to him the affection of our people to him； and to exhort
them to preserve and augment their friendship for us； and be
ready to bestow other benefits upon us； as justly expecting to
receive proper requitals from us； and desiring them to remember
that our ancestors （19） were friendly to the Jews even in the
days of Abraham； who was the father of all the Hebrews； as we
have ＇also＇ found it set down in our public records。〃
23。 The decree of those of Halicarnassus。 〃When Memnon； the son
of Orestidas by descent； but by adoption of Euonymus； was priest；
on the * * * day of the month Aristerion； the decree of the
people； upon the representation of Marcus Alexander； was this：
Since we have ever a great regard to piety towards God； and to
holiness； and since we aim to follow the people of the Romans；
who are the benefactors of all men； and what they have written to
us about a league of friendship and mutual assistance between the
Jews and our city； and that their sacred offices and accustomed
festivals and assemblies may be observed by them； we have
decreed； that as many men and women of the Jews as are willing so
to do； may celebrate their Sabbaths； and perform their holy
offices； according to Jewish laws； and may make their proseuchae
at the sea…side； according to the customs of their forefathers；
and if any one； whether he be a magistrate or private person；
hindereth them from so doing； he shall be liable to a fine； to be
applied to the uses of the city。〃
24。 The decree of the Sardians。 〃This decree was made by the
senate and people； upon the representation of the praetors：
Whereas those Jews who are fellow citizens； and live with us in
this city； have ever had great benefits heaped upon them by the
people； and have come now into the senate； and desired of the
people； that upon the restitution of their law and their liberty；
by the senate and people of Rome； they may assemble together；
according to their ancient legal custom； and that we will not
bring any suit against them about it； and that a place may be
given them where they may have their congregations； with their
wives and children； and may offer； as did their forefathers；
their prayers and sacrifices to God。 Now the senate and people
have decreed to permit them to assemble together on the days
formerly appointed； and to act according to their own laws； and
that such a place be set apart for them by the praetors； for the
building and inhabiting the same； as they shall esteem fit for
that purpose； and that those that take care of the provision for
the city； shall take care that such sorts of food as they esteem
fit for their eating may be imported into the city。〃
25。 The decree of the Ephesians。 〃When Menophilus was prytanis；
on the first day of the month Artemisius； this decree was made by
the people： Nicanor； the son of Euphemus； pronounced it； upon the
representation of the praetors。 Since the Jews that dwell in this
city have petitioned Marcus Julius Pompeius； the son of Brutus；
the proconsul； that they might be allowed to observe their
Sabbaths； and to act in all things according to the customs of
their forefathers； without impediment from any body； the praetor
hath granted their petition。 Accordingly； it was decreed by the
senate and people； that in this affair that concerned the Romans；
no one of them should be hindered from keeping the sabbath day；
nor be fined for so doing； but that they may be allowed to do all
things according to their own laws。〃
26。 Now there are many such decrees of the senate and imperators
of the Romans （20） and those different from these before us；
which have been made in favor of Hyrcanus； and of our nation； as
also； there have been more decrees of the citi