Then they took unhewn stones: Unhewn stones are stones that have not been cut in any way, either to extract them from the ground or to size them for construction. As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, the Greek is literally “whole stones,” that is, stones that are complete and whole. Some translators may find a literal translation of that adequate. The stones involved would be small enough to transport and handle. Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “They found stones that had never been cut.” They had to search for these uncut stones rather than cutting stones that were readily available.

As the law directs: The law refers to “the Law of Moses” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version; see Exo 20.25; Deut 27.6). The whole clause may be rendered “as the Law of Moses commanded them.”

And built a new altar like the former one: Good News Bible may be used as a model here.

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.