He strengthened all the humble of his people: The Maccabees found most of their support among the poorer people of the country. The Hellenizers tended to come from among the wealthy. This line may be rendered “Simon helped all the poor people in his land.”

He sought out the law: Simon tried to rule in accordance with Jewish tradition, the Law of Moses, so we may say “He used the Law of Moses to rule his people.”

And did away with every lawless and wicked man: Did away with means “removed from positions of authority.” It might have included killing them as well, but it is not a necessary conclusion. Every lawless and wicked man were the Hellenizers, those who did not attempt to live a strict Jewish life in accordance with the Law of Moses (see the comments on 1Macc 1.11).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Simon helped all the poor people in his land. He used the Law of Moses to rule his people, and he removed from power all wicked and lawless men.

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.