Not content with this, Antiochus dared to enter the most holy temple in all the world: Not content with this may be rendered “But Antiochus was still not satisfied” (Good News Bible). The most holy temple is the Temple in Jerusalem. We suggest joining the first half of this verse to the preceding verse as follows: “14 … Jerusalem had lost 80,000 people, 15 but Antiochus was still not satisfied [or, but this still did not satisfy Antiochus]. He even dared to enter the holiest Temple in the whole world [or, on earth].”

Guided by Menelaus, who had become a traitor both to the laws and to his country: The translational problem here is that Menelaus must be identified by the long relative clause who had become …, and it must be said that he assisted Antiochus in the plunder of the Temple. The verb guided indicates that he assisted Antiochus by showing him the way to get to the Temple. Who had become a traitor both to the laws and to his country means Menelaus had betrayed the Jewish way of life and his nation. Good News Bible expresses the laws nicely as “his religion.” For his country, Good News Bible has “his people,” which is acceptable, but the literal his country will not be a problem for most translators. Good News Bible‘s rendering of the last half of this verse is a bit awkward. We suggest the following model: “And Menelaus showed him the way! This was the man who had already betrayed his religion and his country!”

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.