ng 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 cities, and rescripts of the praetors, to such
epistles as concerned our rights and privileges; and certainly such as
are not ill-disposed to what we write may believe that they are all
to this purpose, and that by the specimens which we have inserted;
for since we have produced evident marks that may still be seen of the
friendship we have had with the Romans, and demonstrated that those
marks are engraven upon columns and tables of brass in the capitol, that
axe still in being, and preserved to this day, we have omitted to set
them all down, as needless and disagreeable; for I cannot suppose any
one so perverse as not to believe the friendship we have had with the
Ro