After the death of Alexander the Great, there was rivalry between the Seleucid kings in Syria and the Ptolemies, who ruled in Egypt. In 170 or 169 b.c., Ptolemy~VI of Egypt prepared to recover Palestine from the Seleucids in Syria. It was in reaction to Ptolemy’s plan that Antiochus attacked Egypt. The author ignores these details, and pictures Antiochus, having consolidated his control over his own kingdom, making a move to conquer Ptolemy’s kingdom in Egypt.

When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established may be rendered “When Antiochus was in complete control of his kingdom [or, the lands he ruled].”

He determined to become king of the land of Egypt, that he might reign over both kingdoms: Both kingdoms refers to Syria and Egypt. Good News Bible provides a good model with “he decided to conquer Egypt and rule that country as well as Syria.”

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.