There are a number of serious problems in this long verse, but they center around two particular problems: (1)~Does a new sentence begin in Greek with the clause translated To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem? (2)~Who is meant by this clause? Does it refer to Jews in general or to the priests specifically? We will take the position that Revised Standard Version is correct in beginning a new sentence with To all those…. (Revised Standard Version adds a footnote giving an alternative translation.) This is not entirely satisfactory, but it seems to raise fewer problems than other approaches. We will also assume that those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem refers to the Jewish people. We make this assumption guided by 1Macc 10.29, which is part of the letter Demetrius~I addressed to the Jewish nation. Indeed, it is very important that translators refer back to 10.29-31 as they work with verses 34-35.
We have confirmed as their possession both the territory of Judea and the three districts of Aphairema and Lydda and Rathamin: Aphairema (Good News Bible “Ephraim”) was a town about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of Bethel, and is thought to be the town mentioned in John 11.54. Lydda was a town located about 18 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of Joppa. It is referred to as “Lod” (which is also its modern name) in 1~Chr 8.12 and Neh 11.35 (compare Ezra 2.33; Neh 7.37). It is known as Lydda in Acts 9.32-38. Rathamin was a town located about 32 kilometers (20 miles) east of Joppa. It is surely the “Arimathea” (Good News Bible) of the New Testament (see, for example, Matt 27.57), and is probably the birthplace of Samuel, called Ramah in the Old Testament (1~Sam 1.19). There are other forms of the name. Of the choices we recommend “Arimathea,” since there are other places in the Old Testament named Ramah, and the form Rathamin is known only here.
The latter, with all the region bordering them, were added to Judea from Samaria: The latter refers to the three districts named above. For were added, Good News Bible has “are hereby annexed,” but the Greek verb here clearly refers to past time (see the comments on 1Macc 10.30).
For the first half of this verse we suggest the following model: “I confirm their rights [or, the rights of the Jews] to the land of Judea, and also to the towns of Ephraim, Lydda, and Arimathea and their surrounding areas. These are the areas that were taken from Samaria and added to Judea.”
To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem, we have granted release from the royal taxes which the king formerly received from them each year, from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees: As explained above, we are interpreting all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem to refer to the Jewish people. We have granted release is added; it appears in the Greek text at the end of verse 35. Revised Standard Version translates it twice for clarity. The royal taxes which the king formerly received from them each year (Good News Bible “annual tax … to the king”) consisted of taxes from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees (Good News Bible “produce and fruit from these lands”; compare 10.30). Good News Bible‘s rendering of this sentence makes it clear that since taxes are not demanded, all offerings may go to the Temple, rather than only a portion. An alternative model is “They don’t have to pay me my share of the yearly tax on crops and fruit that they pay when they offer sacrifices in the Temple at Jerusalem.”
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.