And he who had driven many from their own country into exile died in exile: We suggest moving this clause to the end of the verse, where it fits in well with verse 10 (so Good News Bible).

Having embarked to go to the Lacedaemonians in hope of finding protection because of their kinship: The Lacedaemonians are the people of Sparta, in Greece. Having embarked to go to the Lacedaemonians means he got on a ship to go to Sparta, presumably from Egypt. So we may say “he traveled to Sparta.” The verb does not indicate whether Jason ever arrived in Sparta. He could have died at sea, he could have died in Greece on the way to Sparta, or in Sparta itself. There are translations that support each of these options. It makes little difference; the point is that he died away from his homeland. In hope of finding protection because of their kinship reflects a belief that the Jews were related to the Spartans (see the comments on 1Macc 12.6).

Here is a model for this verse:

• He traveled to Sparta, hoping to find safety [or, protection] there because the Spartans were related to the Jews. He died in exile [or, away from his homeland]. Finally, this man, who had forced so many others to flee from their own country, died as a fugitive [or, an exile] in a foreign land.

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.