And went to King Demetrius in about the one hundred and fifty-first year: The one hundred and fifty-first year is equivalent to 161 b.c. We suggest the following model for this clause and the last half of the previous verse:

• He realized that [people resented him so much that] he could never be safe if he tried to lead worship at the holy altar [of the Temple], 4~so he went to King Demetrius in the year 151.

Presenting to him a crown of gold and a palm, and besides these some of the customary olive branches from the temple: For a crown of gold and a palm, see the comments on 1Macc 13.37. The Greek word translated olive branches literally means just that, but in this context we should probably understand it in its more general sense of “gifts” (Doran, Goldstein). So some of the customary olive branches from the temple is better rendered “some of the usual gifts from the Temple.” It was customary when a new king took office for those who held appointed offices to seek his favor with certain gifts (compare 1Macc 10.60; 11.24). We think Good News Bible is wrong in thinking of these gifts as being presented to the Temple. They seem instead to be gifts from the Temple, and that is certainly the most natural way to understand the Greek.

During that day he kept quiet: This clause cannot be taken literally; surely Alcimus spoke to the king. Good News Bible is right to help the reader by indicating that Alcimus did not discuss with the king any of his feelings about how things were going in Judea.

Here is an alternative model for the last half of this verse:

• He presented him with a gold crown and a palm branch, as well as some of the usual gifts from the Temple, but he did not tell the king what was on his mind [or, he said nothing about his plans].

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.