And he sent to him a golden buckle, such as it is the custom to give to the kinsmen of kings: Jonathan already was entitled to wear the purple robe of those with the title “Chief Friend of the King” (see verses 64-65). The golden buckle was a clasp that fastened the robe to Jonathan’s shoulder. Fastening the robe with this gold ornament was a higher honor than the robe. It was awarded to those with an even higher rank than “Friend of the King” (2.18) or “Chief Friend of the King” (10.65), that of “Relative of the King” (Good News Bible).

He also gave him Ekron and all its environs as his possession: Ekron was a city on the Philistine plain, located between Azotus and Jerusalem, about 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) east of Azotus. All its environs may be rendered “all the land around it” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

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.