Translators should begin a new paragraph at this point (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

In the one hundred and seventieth year the yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel: Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version begin this verse with the connector “So,” which is helpful. The one hundred and seventieth year corresponds to 142 b.c. and may be rendered “the year 170 of the Syrian Kingdom” (Contemporary English Version; see the comments on 1Macc 1.10). For Gentiles see 1Macc 1.11. The yoke of the Gentiles was removed from Israel means that Israel was no longer under Gentile control or a Gentile government. The letter of Demetrius in effect recognized Judea as an independent state, although it did not directly say this, and Demetrius’ son Antiochus~VII hardly recognized Jewish independence (granted in 1Macc 15.1-9). Even the inscription put up in Jerusalem (1Macc 14.27-47) hinted that Demetrius was still recognized as the legal sovereign, if only in a technical sense. Although Demetrius spoke of releasing control of the fortresses in the land, Simon had to take the forts at Gezer and Jerusalem by force. Some translators may be able to keep the metaphor of yoke as Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible do (compare 1Macc 8.18, 31), but in many languages translators may use nonfigurative language; for example, “the Jews won their freedom from the Gentiles” (Contemporary English Version) or “the Jews were no longer ruled by the Gentiles.”

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.