The Romans now discuss the problem the Jews have with King Demetrius, and state that they have written a letter to him. So translators should begin a new paragraph at this point (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

And concerning the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing to them we have written to him as follows: The Romans have finished with the treaty and now tell the Jews what they have written to King Demetrius. The connector “Furthermore” in Good News Bible is better than And, or we may say “In addition.” An alternative model for this whole sentence is “In addition, we have sent a message to King Demetrius about the way he has been mistreating you [the Jews]. Here is what we said.” Of course, Judas Maccabeus made an alliance with the Romans to escape the trouble Demetrius was causing the Jews. This message of warning to Demetrius assures the Jews that the Romans are taking their alliance with them seriously.

Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?: To “make the yoke heavy” is an idiom for causing trouble and distress (compare verse 18). This question may be effectively broken into two parts by saying “Why are you causing the Jews such trouble? They are friends [and allies] of ours.” Since this question is rhetorical, it may also be expressed as a statement by saying “You have no reason for causing our Jewish allies such trouble.”

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.