Therefore bearing ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm: The Greek connector rendered Therefore introduces a result. Good News Bible translates it “But now.” However, it is better rendered “Consequently” or “So.” The Greek word rendered ivy-wreathed wands is a technical term for a particular kind of wand used in the worship of Dionysus (see the comments on Dionysus at 2Macc 6.7). The only other use of this word in the Greek Bible is at Jdt 15.12, where it is rendered “branches” in the context of another great celebration. In all probability this simply reveals that at this late date certain Greek customs had been naturalized among the Jews, customs that in no way violated their own religious law. The ivy-wreathed wands were apparently sticks, held by hand, that were wrapped around with ivy. Beautiful branches refers to leafy branches cut from trees. Fronds of palm refers to the leafy branches from the tops of palm trees. In the model below we insert “and waving” to (1)~describe what the people were doing with the branches and (2)~avoid implying that the sticks were decorated with the leafy branches. There is no reason to include Good News Bible‘s clause “they paraded around.”

They offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place: They offered hymns of thanksgiving may be rendered “they sang hymns of thanks.” Good News Bible has “singing grateful praises,” which is good. Holy place is literally “place,” a term often used to refer to the Temple. Revised Standard Version inserts holy to make the reference clear. Good News Bible says simply “Temple.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• So, carrying sticks decorated with ivy, and waving leafy branches, even palm fronds [or, branches], they sang songs thanking God, because he had made it possible for his people to worship in the Temple again.

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.