Those in Jerusalem and those in Judea and the senate and Judas: The letter is written in the name of the people of Jerusalem and Judea, as well as the senate (see the comments on 1Macc 12.6; see also Jdt 4.8) and Judas, who is evidently Judas Maccabeus. Senate may be translated by a word referring to a ruling council of elders. This senate may be the body known as the Sanhedrin in the New Testament, but we cannot be sure. An alternative model for the beginning of this verse is “This letter comes from the Jews of Jerusalem and Judea, the Jewish senate [or, ruling council of elders], and Judas.”

To Aristobulus, who is of the family of the anointed priests, teacher of Ptolemy the king, and to the Jews in Egypt: Identifying Aristobulus (see the introductory comments on this letter) as being of the family of the anointed priests means that the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem recognized him as a legitimate priest, descended from a family of priests. Good News Bible says “a descendant of priests,” which is an adequate translation. For priests see the comments on 1Macc 1.46. Ptolemy the king is Ptolemy~VI of Egypt, who ruled 180–145 b.c.

Greeting, and good health: This was a familiar opening for letters at that time. Translators should some equivalent greeting, wishing good health to the readers.

Alternative models that reorder this verse are:

• Greetings to Aristobulus, a descendant of priests and teacher of King Ptolemy, and to the Jews of Egypt, from the people of Jerusalem and Judea, the Jewish senate, and Judas. We wish you good health.

• We, the people of Jerusalem and Judea, the Jewish senate [or, ruling council of elders], and Judas send greetings to Aristobulus, a descendant of priests and the teacher of King Ptolemy. We also greet all the other Jews living in Egypt. May you all have good health.

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.