In the interest of clarifying the confusing narrative here, and acting on the assumption that the two actions described in point 3 above take place, for practical purposes, at the same time, we suggest reordering the material in these two verses. We discuss the material according to the suggested reordering.

He was estranged from Alexander, and their enmity became manifest may be rendered “He broke all ties with Alexander, and became his open enemy [or, everyone knew that they were enemies].”

Then Ptolemy entered Antioch and put on the crown of Asia: Revised Standard Version has a paragraph break here, which we do not recommend. Asia is used here, as in 1Macc 8.6, to refer to the Syrian Empire. Good News Bible has “Syria,” which is acceptable. So for this sentence we may say “Ptolemy entered Antioch, where he crowned himself king of Syria.”

Thus he put two crowns upon his head, the crown of Egypt and that of Asia: This clause does not mean that he wore two crowns at the same time. It may be translated “and so he now claimed to be king not only of Egypt, but of Syria as well.”

So he took his daughter away from him and gave her to Demetrius: Whether Demetrius was actually present or not, Ptolemy claimed his daughter for Demetrius.

Here is a possible model that combines verses 12-13:

• He broke all ties with Alexander, and became his open enemy. He entered Antioch, where he crowned himself king of Asia [or, Syria]. He now claimed to be king not only of Egypt, but of Syria as well. He also took his daughter back from Alexander and gave her to Demetrius as his wife.

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.