Translation commentary on 3 Maccabees 2:12

The words And because oftentimes do not express the correct connection here. Contemporary English Version is better with “Many times in the past.”

When our fathers were oppressed: Our fathers means “our ancestors” (Contemporary English Version) in this context. The passive verb were oppressed may be made active by rendering this clause as “when enemies oppressed our ancestors.”

You helped them in their humiliation may be translated “you rescued them from defeat.”

And rescued them from great evils may be rendered “and you rescued them from the most dangerous situations.”

In this verse Simon is implying that God should help his people just as he did in the past. The connection between this verse and the next one is subtle, and translators may find it easier to make a complete sentence of this verse, and begin a new one with verse 13. One possible model for this verse is:

• In the past enemies often oppressed our ancestors, but you rescued them from defeat, and from the most dangerous situations.

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.

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