And Philip, one of his courtiers, took his body home: This Philip is the same as the one in 1Macc 6.14-15, 55-56; he is different from the one in 2Macc 5.22; 6.11; 8.8. The Greek word for courtier literally refers to a person who grows up with a person, but it usually is an honorary title. New American Bible takes it in its literal sense here, saying “foster brother,” but most scholars believe this is mistaken. (The word is applied in Acts 13.1 to an associate of Herod Antipas, where it is rendered “member of the court”.) So courtiers may be rendered “close friends” (Good News Bible). Home refers to Antioch, and this may be specified by translating took his body home as “took his body back to Antioch.” Some translators may find this helpful so that the reader can keep track of the narrative; others may find that the use of names that are strange to the audience may do more harm than good.

Then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he betook himself to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt: This sentence is very difficult to reconcile with the account in 1Macc 6, but there is no textual confusion, so it is best simply to translate it. He betook himself to may be rendered “he went down to,” since Egypt was south of Antioch. For Ptolemy Philometor, see 2Macc 4.21.

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.