Ptolemais and the land adjoining it I have given as a gift to the sanctuary in Jerusalem: It is not clear that Demetrius is giving only “the revenues from the city of Ptolemais and the lands belonging to it” (Good News Bible). He is probably making a gift of the city itself and its surrounding area (compare 2Macc 4.30). Contemporary English Version‘s model is more correct: “I have given the city of Ptolemais and the land around it as a gift to the temple in Jerusalem.” This is a gift the Jews would have to fight for, and Demetrius knows it. Ptolemais was occupied by the king’s rival Alexander (see verse 1), and the people of Ptolemais were not friendly to the Jews (compare 1Macc 5.15; 2Macc 6.8). This gift is in fact an invitation to attack Alexander’s base of operations.

To meet the necessary expenses of the sanctuary may be rendered “in order to pay for the costs of running [or, maintaining] the Temple.”

We may reorder the clauses of this verse as follows:

• In order to provide for the necessary expenses of the Temple in Jerusalem, I have given the city of Ptolemais and the land around it as a gift to the Temple.

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.