Since the Jews had sent some of their council and elders to greet him, to bring him gifts of welcome, and to congratulate him on what had happened: The translator’s goal here is to help the reader with the sequence of events. Verses 6-7 describe the effects of a tour that Philopator made of some cities near Raphia. Verse 8 backtracks a bit. While Philopator was on his tour, the Jews in Jerusalem sent a delegation to him, to congratulate him, give him gifts, and assure him of their welcome. This verse is a long sentence. Its first half will be best expressed as a separate sentence or even two. It would be helpful to begin the verse with “While Philopator was traveling, the Jews sent some….” Contemporary English Version translates some of their council and elders as “some of their religious leaders,” but civic leaders are in view here as well. It would be better to say “some of their political and religious leaders.” Gifts of welcome are gifts brought by friends as signs of friendship. Since this is a new section, it might be helpful to explain the phrase what had happened in to congratulate him on what had happened. Contemporary English Version has “to congratulate him on what he had done,” but we may also say “to congratulate him on defeating the Syrians.”

Here is a model for the first part of the verse:

• While Philopator was traveling, the Jews sent some of their political and religious leaders to greet [or, welcome] him. They brought him gifts to show their friendship, and congratulated him on all that he had done.

He was all the more eager to visit them as soon as possible: The Jewish welcome was so impressive that Philopator was especially eager to visit them. A model for this sentence is given in the comments on the next verse.

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.