The king also seated him at his side: To be seated beside the king was a high honor, and Good News Bible ensures that the readers understand this by making it explicit, saying “and he honored him by letting him sit at his side.” In some languages this clause may be rendered “He gave him even greater face by letting him sit at his side.”

And he said to his officers …: What Alexander said to his officers is brief, so Good News Bible uses indirect discourse, saying “Alexander told his officers to….” Translators must decide whether it is more natural to direct or indirect speech here. There is an indirect command (and proclaim that …) embedded in the direct quotation.

Go forth with him into the middle of the city may be expressed as “Take Jonathan to the center of the city.”

And proclaim that no one is to bring charges against him about any matter: The Greek verb rendered bring charges against is the same one translated “accuse” in verse 61. For translators who want to use direct speech here, they may say “and announce, ‘No one is to bring charges against him for any reason.’”

And let no one annoy him for any reason: The Greek verb translated annoy appeared earlier in verse 35. Those translating this clause indirectly will find Good News Bible a good model: “and no one was to cause him any kind of trouble.” A model that uses direct speech is “or cause him any kind of trouble.”

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.