And I have also sent Menelaus to encourage you: It is hard to see how anyone could have thought that the rebellious Jews would have been encouraged in any way by the presence of Menelaus (see verse 29). However, by sending Menelaus the king is also saying that he does not recognize Judas Maccabeus as a legitimate leader. To encourage you is not quite right. Good News Bible is better with “to set your minds at ease.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• I am also sending Menelaus to assure you that you have nothing to worry about [or, you don’t have to worry about anything].

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.