So he summoned his most honored officers: The connector So introduces the result of Alexander’s realization of his impending death. This connector may be left implied by rendering verses 5-6 as follows: 5 “… Knowing that he was about to die, 6 he called his….” The Greek word translated most honored can be understood as a noun meaning “noblemen” (Good News Bible). Good News Bible renders the Greek word for officers (literally “servants”) as “generals,” which is saying a bit more than the text says, but is not historically inaccurate. For most honored officers Goldstein translates “high officers,” and Dancy suggests “senior officers.” An alternative model for this whole clause is “So he called his senior officers.”

Who had been brought up with him from youth may be rendered “who had grown up with him from childhood.”

And divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive: Alexander wished to direct what would happen to his empire after his death. Good News Bible translates kingdom as “empire,” which is more accurate historically. A kingdom is a smaller or local area, with a king ruling over his own people. An “empire” is larger, with an emperor ruling not only over his own people, but over other peoples as well, who may have been conquered (see verse 1). While he was still alive may be rendered “while he was still able to do so.”

An alternative model for verses 5 and 6 is:

• 5 After he had done all this, Alexander fell sick. Knowing that he was about to die, 6 he called his senior officers to come to him. These were men who had grown up with him from childhood. He divided his empire among them while he was still able to do so.

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.