They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and consecrated the courts: Rebuilt the sanctuary (literally “built the holy things/places”) here refers to repairing the enclosed, roofed building that stood in the middle of the Temple courtyard. “Repaired” (Good News Bible) is better than rebuilt; the text does not say the Temple was destroyed, requiring rebuilding. The interior of the temple is literally “the interior of the house,” thus referring again to the central structure. It is not clear from the Greek whether the inside of the Temple building is said to be rebuilt (with the Temple) or consecrated (with the courtyards), but more likely the latter is meant. To make this another object of the verb rebuilt is to say the same thing twice. Rather, they consecrated both the interior of the building and the courtyards. How this was done is not said, but perhaps there was a ceremony. An anointing ceremony to consecrate the Tabernacle is described in Exo 30.22-29 and 40.9, but since the Tabernacle courtyard was not anointed, this may not be what was involved here. Perhaps consecrated means “made fit [or, ready] for use as a place of worship” in this context (compare 2~Chr 29.5). So this verse may be rendered:

• They also repaired [or, restored] the Temple, making the interior as well as the courtyards fit [or, ready] for use as a place of worship.

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.