When the king came to Tyre, three men sent by the senate presented the case before him: Good News Bible does well to indicate that the three men came to Tyre from Jerusalem. For the senate, see the comments on 1Macc 12.6 and 2Macc 1.10. Before him means “before the king,” who would act as judge. However, the Greek phrase for before him may mean “against him,” that is, against Menelaus. The three men acted as lawyers, arguing that Menelaus was guilty of a crime. Three men sent by the senate presented the case before him may be rendered “the Jewish council of elders in Jerusalem sent three men to argue the case before the king” or “… to argue the case against Menelaus” (similarly Good News Bible).

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.