While the high priest was making the offering of atonement: It is not clear just what kind of sacrifice the offering of atonement was, but it was certainly not the same kind of offering as the one offered on the Day of Atonement. Perhaps it was the kind of offering described in Lev 4.22-26, but some special value is be put on Onias as worthy of making it. For translational purposes, making the offering of atonement may be rendered simply “offering the sacrifice” (Good News Bible) or even “sacrificing the animal.”

The same young men appeared again to Heliodorus, dressed in the same clothing: Once again Heliodorus alone saw the two young men (see verse 26). Translations should not allow the reader to think others saw them as well. Dressed in the same clothing may be translated “wearing the same clothes as before” (Good News Bible).

And they stood and said: Good News Bible does not express stood, and it is not necessary to do so; it adds nothing to appeared. We are not told, but apparently Heliodorus was still unconscious when he saw and heard the young men.

Be very grateful to Onias the high priest, since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life: Good News Bible omits the name Onias, perhaps because it does sound a bit awkward in English to name him here, but it does not have to be awkward. Contemporary English Version includes it by rendering Be very grateful to Onias the high priest as “Heliodorus, you should be grateful for Onias!” The young men are not informing Heliodorus of the priest’s name, but emphasizing that this man Onias is responsible for his surviving, and that Heliodorus should be grateful. Since for his sake the Lord has granted you your life may be expressed as “It was because of him that the Lord did not take your life” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.