The king became excited: Excited in this context means “agitated, upset, angry.” The king became angry because of what Alcimus told him.

And, provoked by the false accusations of that depraved man: The king was upset not because Alcimus was making accusations that the king knew were false, but rather because he believed the accusations, which the writer tells us were false. That depraved man refers to Alcimus; this idea is missing from Good News Bible. Contemporary English Version keeps it with “that worthless Alcimus.” The first half of this verse may be rendered “Those false accusations by that worthless [or, evil] man Alcimus made the king so angry that he….”

Wrote to Nicanor, stating that he was displeased with the covenant and commanding him to send Maccabeus to Antioch as a prisoner without delay: The covenant refers to the agreement worked out between Nicanor and Judas (see verses 22 and 26). Good News Bible expresses send … as a prisoner as “arrest … and send.”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• The king became furious when he heard what that evil man Alcimus was saying. He was so angry that he wrote to Nicanor and let him know that he did not like the agreement he had made with Judas. He ordered him to take Judas as a prisoner and send him to Antioch immediately.

We may also render the letter in direct speech as follows:

• … He was so angry that he wrote a letter to Nicanor saying, “I do not like the agreement that you have made with Judas. I order you to take Judas as a prisoner and send him here to Antioch immediately.”

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.