And in anger he swore this oath: And in anger … may be rendered “Nicanor was so angry that he….” Often an oath refers to a “solemn promise,” but here it is different. Nicanor is delivering an extremely angry threat. One way to approach this is to build the idea of the threat into Nicanor’s words as Good News Bible does. We suggest another model below.

Unless Judas and his army are delivered into my hands this time: Although it is not alone in its interpretation, we believe that Good News Bible misunderstands what is being said here. Nicanor was not demanding that the people in Jerusalem turn Judas over to him. He had every intention of going into battle with Judas again. When he said this, he was speaking of winning the battle (compare 2~Kgs 18.30; 19.10). Therefore it will be necessary in many languages to make this idea clear by saying, for example, “Unless I defeat Judas and his army this next time.”

Then if I return safely I will burn up this house: He did not know if he would be victorious. He might be killed. That is why he said if I return safely (literally “if I return in peace”), which may be rendered “if I return safe and sound.” Nicanor did not actually say “Temple” (Good News Bible), but only house, which was a word commonly used to refer to the Temple. It is unlikely that Nicanor would have used a dignified term for Temple. Here is another way to render his whole threat: “If I do not defeat Judas and his army this next time, here is what will happen. If I get back to this place alive, I swear to you that I am going to burn this building to the ground!”

And he went out in great anger: Nicanor was furious when he left the city of Jerusalem (see verse 39).

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.