The footnote in Revised Standard Version is correct; the Greek text of this verse is indeed uncertain, but the basic meaning of the verse is not really that uncertain. Therefore we suggest that translators ignore the footnote.

And those who a little before had acted toward him with good will now changed to ill will: In some languages the connector And will be kept, but in others it may be omitted by rendering And those who … as “The men who…” or “Those same men who….” A little before may be translated “a few minutes before” (Good News Bible) or “a few minutes earlier.” When good will became ill will, it was more than friendly people becoming unfriendly. They became hostile—actively unfriendly and actually wishing him harm.

Because the words he had uttered were in their opinion sheer madness: Because the words he had uttered may be rendered “because they thought that what he had said.” Sheer madness translates a single Greek noun. A better rendering for this noun is “complete nonsense.” They did not think Eleazar was insane; they thought he was taking foolishness to such an extreme they found it offensive.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• The men who, just a few moments earlier, had been treating him kindly now became hostile [or, unfriendly and angry], because they thought that what he had said was complete nonsense.

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.