For it seemed that not only the men but also the walls and the whole earth around echoed: The connector for may also be rendered “In fact” (Contemporary English Version). It seemed that may be translated “it seemed [or, sounded] like [or, as if].” Again the author is trying to describe the noise of the Jews. Men here includes men and women. Echoed is a poor choice of words, since men do not echo. A better approach is to picture the walls and the whole earth as shouting, or in this case, uttering loud prayers. Walls and the ground do not shout or pray, of course, but it is an understandable way to convey what the author intends. The walls refers to the walls of the Temple. The whole earth is misleading since the Greek here is referring to the floor, the pavement, of the Temple. Here are possible models for the first half of this verse: “In fact, it sounded like not only the people were shouting, but also the walls of the Temple and its pavement” and “In fact, it seemed like the Temple walls and even its pavement were joining the people in loud prayers.”

Because indeed all at that time preferred death to the profanation of the place: All the Jews present would rather have died than see the Temple profaned by a Gentile entering it. The connector because may be omitted (so Contemporary English Version). As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, some Greek manuscripts omit at that time. (These manuscripts have simply the definite article with death.) Translators who wish may omit the idea, but we prefer to keep it. Contemporary English Version renders this clause as “The people agreed that it would be better for them to die than to watch Philopator make their temple unfit as a place to worship God.” This model may be wordier than necessary, but it is a good approach. A model that keeps the phrase at that time is “Everyone who was then present [or, All the Jews there] would rather have died than have their Temple made unfit as a place to worship.”

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.