In fact you would have been deprived of life instead of these … : Philopator tells his advisers that he would have the elephants kill them, if he did not have a real affection for them. After all, they had served him well (usefulness). In fact indicates that what is about to be said will be something unexpected. Would have been deprived of life may be rendered “would have been killed” or “I should have killed you.”

Were it not for an affection arising from our nurture in common and your usefulness: The Greek phrase rendered our nurture in common can be interpreted to mean they had all grown up together, had been brought up in the same way, or had been friends a long time (so Anderson with “our habitual companionship”). The last meaning is preferable.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• In fact, even though you are my friends, I should have you killed for even suggesting this. And I would have killed you if we had not known each other for so long, and you had not served me so well.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.