15. Meanwhile, Numenius and those with him arrived in Jerusalem from Rome with the following letter addressed to various kings and countries:
16. “From Lucius, consul of the Romans, to King Ptolemy, greetings.
17. A delegation from our friends and allies the Jews has come to us to renew the earlier treaty of friendship and alliance. They were sent by the High Priest Simon and the Jewish people,
18. and they have brought as a gift a gold shield weighing 500 kilogrammes.