15:14. And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by sea: and they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and suffered none to come in, or to go out.
15:15. And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings, and countries, the contents whereof were these:
15:16. Lucius, the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee, greeting.
Ptolemee… Surnamed Physeon, brother and successor to Philometer.
15:17. The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon, the high priest, and the people of the Jews.
15:18. And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand pounds.
15:19. It hath seemed good therefore to us, to write to the kings and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, their cities, or countries: and that they should give no aid to them that fight against them.
15:20. And it hath seemed good to us to receive the shield of them.
15:21. If, therefore, any pestilent men are fled out of their country to you, deliver them to Simon, the high priest, that he may punish them according to their law.
15:22. These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,