So Simon accepted and agreed to be high priest, to be commander and ethnarch of the Jews and priests, and to be protector of them all: Accepted and agreed may be considered a legal redundancy. Good News Bible keeps two terms by saying “consented and agreed.” However, translators may combine them, saying simply “agreed” or “was happy.” The Greek word for commander is the same on rendered “governor” in verse 42. As there, it has the sense of military commander. The Greek word for ethnarch (literally “ruler of a people”) is used here for the first time; it will occur again in 1Macc 15.1-2. Good News Bible translates it “governor.” It would be entirely inappropriate to use the word “king,” and translators should be sure their translation does not say or imply this. From a Greek point of view, Demetrius was still king. From a Jewish point of view, the Maccabees were not descended from David, and could not be kings. The mention of priests at this point (compare verse 41) may be because some of the priests objected to the Maccabees taking over the priesthood; this may be an attempt to ensure their loyalty. The clause to be protector of them all (literally “to protect/preside over [them] all”) can be interpreted in two ways. It says either that Simon is to protect all the priests and other Jews (so Revised Standard Version), or that he is to preside over all of them (so Revised Standard Version footnote, Goldstein). In the historical context we prefer the latter interpretation. Good News Bible expresses this sense by saying “supreme leader.”

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• Simon [for his part], agrees [or, has agreed] to be [or, to serve as] High Priest, military commander, and ruler of the nation. He is to have authority over all the Jews, including [all] the priests.”

In Good News Bible, which we follow here, this is the end of the inscription. The next two verses are the writer’s closing remarks concerning it.

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.