Now when Jonathan saw that the time was favorable for him … may be expressed as “Jonathan realized that this was a good time…” (Contemporary English Version) or “Jonathan was now in a very favorable position. Knowing this….”

He chose men and sent them to Rome: For men Good News Bible has “ambassadors,” which is not correct, since it implies that they were the representatives of a recognized state. We can be sure that leaders in Antioch would not approve of this contact. “Some men” is a better translation.

To confirm and renew the friendship with them may be expressed as “to make sure that the Romans were still on good terms with the Jews and to assure the Romans that the Jews were still their friends.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Jonathan was now in a very favorable position. Knowing this, he chose some men and sent them to Rome to make sure that the Romans were still on good terms with the Jews and to assure the Romans that the Jews were still their friends.

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.