Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids Jews to wear: When Judas and his men were taking the corpses for burial, they unexpectedly discovered idols under the clothes of these corpses. So the connector Then is better rendered “But” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). A tunic was a long, close-fitting garment worn next to the skin under an outer cloak or coat. In many languages under the tunic may be rendered “under the clothes” (similarly Good News Bible); but translators in cultures that still wear garments similar to those of the Jews of Judas’ time may be able to identify this garment. Sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia were amulets or charms, worn for good luck. The text does not tell us just what these things looked like. Goldstein translates “objects which had been consecrated to the idols of Jamnia,” which is correct but wordy. Good News Bible says “small images of the gods worshiped in Jamnia,” which is adequate. Judas’ men would certainly have recognized what they were. It was against Jewish law even to possess such things (see Deut 7.25-26). For the town of Jamnia, see the comments on 1Macc 4.12-15.

And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen: The writer blames the death of these soldiers on their idolatry (see the comments on verse 34).

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• But they discovered that every one of the dead men was wearing next to his body [or, under his clothing] small images of the gods of Jamnia. The Law forbids Jews to wear such things, and everyone realized that this is why these men had died.

• … the gods of Jamnia. Everyone then knew why these men had died, because the Law forbids Jews to wear such things.

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.