For he and his brothers and the house of his father have stood firm: The house of his father refers to the whole family of Mattathias, the Maccabees, who began the rebellion against the Syrians in 1Macc 2.24-25. The meaning of have stood firm is explained in the last half of the verse. Good News Bible says “have been towers of strength,” which is a quotation from Shakespeare that has become an English idiom; but will be too difficult to translate in many languages. Perhaps we may say “have always remained strong.”

They have fought and repulsed Israel’s enemies and established its freedom: Good News Bible combines the verbs fought and repulsed, saying “fought off.” Contemporary English Version provides a simpler model for the last half of this verse with “they have defeated our enemies and set us free.”

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.