All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king: In most versions, as well as in Rahlfs’ and Kappler’s Greek texts, this clause is part of verse 42, and we recommend that translators so number it. It may be rendered simply “All the Gentiles submitted to [or, obeyed] this decree [or, law].”

Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath: An idol is a man-made object, usually in the likeness of a person, which is worshiped as a god. Profaned the sabbath means they no longer set aside the Sabbath as a time to worship God. A model that renders these clauses as a separate verse is “Many Israelites also were happy to convert to his [or, the king’s] religion. They began offering sacrifices to idols, and no longer observed the Sabbath.”

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.