Antiochus was elated in spirit: The name Antiochus occurs here in the Greek text, perhaps because the writer wanted to make sure the reader knew the subject, after the two pairs of hands in the preceding verse (assuming translators follow the second approach discussed above). Good News Bible does not name Antiochus here, since he was the subject of the last verse in Good News Bible‘s model. Translators taking our suggestion for verse 16 will want to name Antiochus here. The Greek expression rendered was elated in spirit can mean Antiochus was excited or “thrilled” (Good News Bible), but it can also mean he was acting arrogantly. We believe that the idea of “arrogance” is the better choice, for it fits in well with the rest of the verse. Antiochus was proud of what he had done; he just didn’t realize that God had allowed him to do it. For this clause New English Bible translates “The pride of Antiochus passed all bounds,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “Holding so high an opinion of himself.” We may also say “Antiochus took great pride in [or, was very proud of] what he had done.”

And did not perceive that the Lord was angered for a little while because of the sins of those who dwelt in the city, and that therefore he was disregarding the holy place: The connector and is better rendered “but,” “however,” or “that” (Good News Bible). Did not perceive may be expressed as “he did not understand” (Contemporary English Version), or even “he did not realize” (Good News Bible). The Greek word used for Lord here is not the usual word (see verse 20, where it also occurs). For the Lord was angered for a little while because of the sins of those who dwelt in the city, see the model below. Disregarding the holy place means not acting to defend the Temple. We suggest reversing the order of the clauses here by saying “He did not understand, however, that the Lord was not protecting his holy place [or, Temple] at that time because he was angry for a little while at the sins of the people of the city [or, Jerusalem].”

An alternative model for verses 16-17 is:

• 16 Menelaus took the sacred objects used in worship, and swept up [or, gathered up] the precious offerings that kings had given to increase the honor and glory of the Temple. Then, with his unclean [or, filthy] hands he turned all these things over to the unholy hands of Antiochus. 17 Antiochus was so proud of what he had done that he did not realize that the Lord was not protecting his holy place because he was angry for a little while at the sins of the people of Jerusalem.

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.