That the priests were no longer intent upon their service at the altar: We suggest rendering this clause as a separate sentence by saying “Even the priests lost interest in their sacred duties at the altar” or “… lost interest in performing their duties at the altar.”
Despising the sanctuary and neglecting the sacrifices may be translated “They neglected the sacrifices, and lost their reverence for [or, despised] the Temple.”
They hastened to take part in the unlawful proceedings in the wrestling arena after the call to the discus: It is not at all clear what this last half of the verse means. The Greek word translated proceedings normally refers to the duty of providing for the expenses for an entertainment, such as a drama, or in this case, athletic events. New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and Abel translate “distribution of the oil,” on the grounds that providing oil for the athletes to rub on their bodies was one of the ways that rich patrons supported the games. New English Bible is similar by rendering take part in the … proceedings as “contributed to the expenses.” Goldstein argues that the priests would not be wealthy donors, and that the word for proceedings refers to the “entertainment” itself. Revised English Bible reflects this sense with “join in the sports.” Compare Good News Bible “take part in the games.” The problem with this sense is imagining the priests, some of them certainly getting old, actively participating in the sports. Maybe only the younger ones did. Or maybe they were simply spectators. The Greek word translated wrestling arena refers specifically to a place for the sport of wrestling. However, some understand it in a broader sense here. New American Bible translates “athletic field,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “exercise ground.” Good News Bible does not translate it directly, assuming that “take part in the games” implies an arena of some kind. Some understand the Greek word for discus as a reference to the specific sport of throwing the discus. A discus is a round, flat disk about the size of a dinner plate. Throwing such a disk to the greatest possible distance was part of the athletic contests of the ancient Greeks. However, others believe the Greek word here refers to a gong, which is a round metal object that produces a loud sound when struck. Whatever the precise meaning of the Greek phrase rendered after the call to the discus, it refers to some signal that the athletic games were about to begin. Contemporary English Version says “when the signal was given” (similarly Good News Bible).
An alternative model for this verse is:
• Even the priests lost interest in their sacred duties at the altar. They began to neglect the sacrifices, and looked down on the Temple. As soon as they heard a signal that athletic games were about to begin, they would hurry [or, go rushing] off to be there, even though it was against our Law [or, God’s Law].
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.