In this verse Revised Standard Version reverses the order of the elements in the Greek text, which actually begins with the king calling for Hermon. We recommend Revised Standard Version‘s reordering. It makes for a better transition to verse 2.

Then the king, completely inflexible … : Mentioning the king by name at the beginning of this new section and chapter would be helpful (so Contemporary English Version with “King Philopator”). Completely inflexible means he was determined to go through with his plans; nothing was going to sway him. A possible model for the beginning of this verse is “King Philopator was absolutely determined to carry out his plans….”

Was filled with overpowering anger and wrath: The words anger and wrath mean the same thing. Translators should use whatever expression is available to indicate fierce anger, for example, “was more furious than ever” (Contemporary English Version), “and was now in a furious rage,” or even “His heart was filled with fierce anger.”

So he summoned Hermon, keeper of the elephants: Elephants were sometimes used in battle (see 1 Macc 6.30-46; 2 Macc 15.20-21), and the keeper of the elephants was the man who took care of the elephants that the army used.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• King Philopator was absolutely determined to carry out his plans, and was now in a furious rage. He called for Hermon, the man who had charge of the elephants used in battle….

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.