After a period of three years Jason sent Menelaus, the brother of the previously mentioned Simon: After a period of three years refers to the time that had passed since Jason became High Priest (verse 10), not since the events in the previous section. A clear way to express this is “Three years after Jason became High Priest.” The previously mentioned Simon translates a Greek phrase that is slightly different from the one in verse 1, but the meaning is the same, so translators may use the same expression here.

To carry the money to the king: We are not told what money is involved, so saying the money is misleading. It suggests that the writer is referring to money already mentioned, which does not seem to be the case. This is why Good News Bible says “some money,” and New English Bible has simply “money.”

And to complete the records of essential business: The exact meaning of this clause is uncertain, so it is translated in rather different ways. New English Bible has “and to carry out his directions about urgent business,” while Revised English Bible uses “and to carry out agreed decisions on some urgent business.” Goldstein reads “and as his agent for executing royal decisions on pressing matters.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “and to complete negotiations on various essential matters.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Abel are similar to New Jerusalem Bible, but Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has a note admitting that the sense is unclear. Contemporary English Version says “in order to do some important business,” and New American Bible has “and to obtain decisions on some important matters” (similarly Good News Bible). Translators may follow any of these versions. However, it is possible to render the clause by covering what is essential without being too precise as follows: “and to conduct some urgent business.”

Alternative models for this verse are:

• Three years after Jason became High Priest, he sent Menelaus (the brother of the Simon mentioned earlier) to take [some] money to the king and to conduct some urgent business.

• Three years after Jason became High Priest, he sent Menelaus to take some money to the king and to do some important business. Menelaus was the brother of Simon whom I mentioned earlier.

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.