1 “From the elder, and his three hundred_and twenty governors, to Hyrcanus the king of Judah, health.
2 Your letter has even now reached us, on reading which we rejoiced; and we have questioned your ambassadors concerning the state of your affairs.
3 Also we have acknowledged their place of dignity in science, moral discipline, and the virtues; and we have honoured them, and made them sit in the presence of our elder:
4 who has been careful to transact all their business, giving command that all the cities which Antiochus had taken away by force should be restored to you;
5 and that every obstacle to the exercise of your religion should be removed; and that all should be made void which Antiochus had decreed against you.
6 He has also commanded thatall the cities which he had taken should continue faithful for you; he has likewise given orders by letter to all his provinces, that your ambassadors should be treated with respect and honour.
7 Moreover he has sent with them an ambassador to you named Cynzeus, bearing a letter; to whom also he has entrusted an embassy, that he might treat with you in person.”
8 Therefore when this epistle of the Romans had reached Hyrcanus, he began to be styled king, being formerly called high priest: and thus the royal and sacerdotal dignities were united in him.
9 And he was the first who was called king among the chiefs of the Jews in the time of the second house.