It was heard in Rome, and as far away as Sparta, that Jonathan had died, and they were deeply grieved: Revised Standard Version has rearranged some elements in this sentence, and may have created a misleading picture. It is literally “And it was heard in Rome that Jonathan had died, and it was heard as far as Sparta, and they grieved greatly.” The news of Jonathan’s death was heard in Rome, but it is not clearly said that the Romans grieved. We cannot rule that out, but it is clearer that the Spartans grieved. (According to our author, the Spartans claimed to be related to the Jews; see 1Macc 12.19-23.) In languages that do not have a passive voice, this verse may be rendered:

• The people in cities as far away as Rome and Sparta mourned greatly when they heard that Jonathan had died.

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.