And when he was near death, he said: The Greek expression here is not exactly the same as the one at the beginning of verse 9, but translators should consult the comments there; the same or a similar expression may be used here. Good News Bible has “but his final words were,” and Contemporary English Version says “But just before he died, he told them.” Since so many brothers are in view, it might be good to say “But just before the fourth brother died, he said.”

One cannot but choose to die at the hands of men and to cherish the hope that God gives of being raised again by him: One cannot but choose to die at the hands of men may be rendered “I am willing for you to kill me.” Alternative models for this whole sentence are “I would rather you kill me than have to give up the hope that God will raise me to life again,” “It is better to be killed than to give up the hope that God will raise me to life again,” and “It is better that you should kill me than that I should give up the hope that God will raise me to life again.”

But for you there will be no resurrection to life!: The pronoun you is singular in Greek. Good News Bible makes this clear by saying “you, Antiochus.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Just before he died, he said, “I would rather you kill me than give up the hope that God will raise me to life again. God has given me that hope, but Antiochus, there will be no life after death for you!”

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.