So now we have chosen you today to take his place as our ruler and leader, to fight our battle: So now … today may be rendered simply “So today” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). Instead of have chosen, Good News Bible has the present tense verb “choose.” Translators may use any tense that is natural and appropriate. The people want Jonathan not only to be their military leader in place of Judas, but also their ruler. This probably does not mean that they are thinking of him heading an organized government, but they simply want someone to take the lead in fighting for Jewish religious tradition. Our battle is not referring to just one battle, but the continued war against Bacchides and the Syrians. This may involve many battles.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• So today we are choosing you. We want you to succeed him [Judas] as our new leader, to lead us as we fight our enemies.”

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.