In every place, then, where this decree arrived: At the beginning of this new section, translators may need to identify this decree as being from King Philopator; for example, this clause may be rendered “Everywhere that [or, In every town where] King Philopator’s letter went.”

A feast at public expense was arranged for the Gentiles with shouts and gladness: At public expense means the Egyptian government paid for the celebration. The Gentiles refers to the Greek people in Egypt; the indigenous people were not citizens. With shouts and gladness means the Greek people celebrated happily and noisily. In languages that do not have the passive voice, translators may render this clause as “the government paid for feasts where the happy Gentiles [or, Greek citizens] could celebrate noisily.”

For the inveterate enmity which had long ago been in their minds was now made evident and outspoken: The inveterate enmity refers to the deep-seated hatred for the Jews that the Greeks in Egypt had kept in their hearts for a long time (long ago). Was now made evident and outspoken may be rendered “they now expressed openly” or even “they no longer had to hide” (Contemporary English Version).

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Everywhere [or, In every town where] King Philopator’s letter went, the government paid for feasts where the happy Gentiles [or, Greeks] could celebrate noisily. They had hated the Jews bitterly for a long time, but now they could express it [or, their hatred] openly.

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.