And Simon decreed that every year they should celebrate this day with rejoicing: Like Nicanor’s Day (1Macc 7.49), this day was observed annually for a while, but it was eventually dropped from the Jewish calendar. Good News Bible‘s model is helpful here, but we may also say “Simon issued a decree that the people should joyfully celebrate this day every year.”

He strengthened the fortifications of the temple hill alongside the citadel may be expressed as “He made the defenses of the Temple hill on the side facing the fort stronger than before.”

And he and his men dwelt there: His men (literally “those around him”) are not identified. The author surely does not mean all of Simon’s army. Presumably the phrase refers to his close advisers and officers. The Greek verb form rendered dwelt puts its emphasis not on establishing a headquarters, but on the site remaining a headquarters. There refers to the fort. An alternative model for this clause is “and he and his officials made their headquarters there” or “Then he and his officers made the fortress their headquarters” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

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.