Mothers and nurses abandoned even newborn children here and there, some in houses and some in the streets: Nurses refers to “wet nurses,” women who suckle the babies of other women at their breasts. So we may render this clause as “Mothers and women who were nursing [or, suckling] the babies of other women abandoned [or, forgot about] the babies and left them behind in houses and in the streets” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

And without a backward look they crowded together at the most high temple: The Greek adverb translated without a backward look literally means “without turning around,” but it has the figurative meaning “heedlessly, carelessly.” There is a question as to whether this word is to be taken with the preceding statement about the women abandoning their babies, or with the following statement about crowding together at the Temple. Anderson translates it with the following statement, saying “abandoning all caution, thronged to the most glorious Temple.” However, Hadas renders it with the preceding one, saying “left newborn infants behind untended…,” and Emmet is similar with “left [the babies] here and there … without care….” In our opinion, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, and Anderson have the more satisfying interpretation. The Greek expression for the most high temple probably refers to the holiness of the Temple (so Contemporary English Version) or its grandeur (so Anderson), but Hadas renders it literally, saying “the Temple, which towers above all.” The Greek phrase is unusual; it is the author’s attempt to describe the Temple in elegant, fancy language.

Here is a possible alternative model for this verse:

• Mothers, and other women who were nursing [or, suckling] the babies of other women, left newborn babies anywhere—inside or outside [or, in their houses or in the streets]. Then, without looking back at them, joined the crowds at the great, holy [or, sacred/taboo] Temple.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.