In Asaramel: Most versions follow the Greek texts of Rahlfs and Kappler by putting this phrase in verse 27, which we recommend. Good News Bible does not translate the word Asaramel, but places the footnote signifying its absence in verse 27. This word is a puzzle. Some scholars think it refers to a place; others think it is one of Simon’s titles. No one knows. Most scholars trying to make sense of it try to reconstruct a Hebrew original that the Greek translator would have misunderstood as a placename. Some think the Hebrew said “the outer court [of the Temple] of the people of God.” Others think it said “the prince of the people of God,” a title given to Simon. There are other conjectures. We would happily recommend one of these approaches if there were reasonable assurance of its accuracy, but there is no consensus. Since this is so, and it is the Greek text we are translating and not a Hebrew text, we can only offer translators the following two options:

1. Follow Revised Standard Version and say “in [or, at] Asaramel.” It will not mean anything, but it will at least represent the text, and in the ears of some hearers may even add a note of solemnity that would be appropriate to the context.
2. Follow Good News Bible by omitting it in translation and putting this footnote after the last word of verse 27: “*Greek here adds in Asaramel, the meaning of which is unclear.”

In the great assembly of the priests and the people and the rulers of the nation and the elders of the country, the following was proclaimed to us: This verse and the previous one are a highly formal introduction to the proclamation in honor of Simon which begins in the next verse. Some translators may be aware of some similar form used in their own cultural situation which might be adapted for use here. The important thing is that translators convey the solemnity and legal nature of the proclamation. The reader must understand that the leaders of the nation are awarding Simon the highest honors they can think of. The great assembly refers to a formal and official gathering of the nation’s leaders. This phrase is better rendered “a great assembly” (Good News Bible), since this meeting is mentioned for the first time here. Contemporary English Version says “an important meeting,” which is good. The rulers of the nation probably refers to “officials” (Good News Bible). Simon was the ruler of Judea. The elders of the country is translated well by Good News Bible as “national leaders” (see 1Macc 7.33), but we may also say “leaders of the people of Judea.” In languages that do not have the passive voice, the following was proclaimed to us may be rendered “they told us [or, made known to us] the following things.”

We suggest the following model for verse 28:

• Our priests, representatives of the people, officials, and leaders of the nation held a great [or, important] assembly and made known to us the following facts:

We may also combine the last half of verse 27 and verse 28 as follows:

• The following proclamation to the Jewish people was made on the eighteenth day of the month Elul, in the year 172 of the Syrian Kingdom (the third year that Simon the great High Priest ruled), by the entire assembly [or, the Great Assembly] of the priests, officials, and leaders of the people of Judea:~….

• After Simon the great High Priest had ruled [in Asaramel] almost three years, our priests, officials, and leaders of the people held a great [or, important] assembly [or, meeting] on the eighteenth day of the month of Elul in the year 172 of the Syrian Kingdom. This is what they proclaimed to us:~….

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.