Hermon, however, when he had drugged the pitiless elephants until they had been filled with a great abundance of wine and satiated with frankincense: The conjunction however is better rendered “Meanwhile” (Contemporary English Version). For the drugging of the elephants with wine and frankincense, see the comments on 3 Macc 5.2 (see also verse 45, where the author says the frankincense was mixed with the wine). The elephants are described as pitiless, that is, fierce and cruel, having none of the human sense of compassion. Contemporary English Version says “unsuspecting elephants,” which is incorrect. The words filled and satiated have the same meaning, so we may render the first part of this verse as “Meanwhile, Hermon drugged those fierce elephants with lots of frankincense mixed with lots of undiluted wine” or “Meanwhile, Hermon gave the fierce elephants frankincense mixed with undiluted wine until they could eat and drink no more.”

Presented himself at the courtyard early in the morning to report to the king about these preparations: Hermon went to report to the king that he had followed his orders, and all was ready. The courtyard was an area of the palace open to the air. A person would have to go there to seek entrance to the palace itself. Early in the morning refers to the day the massacre of the Jews was to take place.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Meanwhile, Hermon drugged those fierce elephants with lots of frankincense mixed with lots of wine. Then early the next morning he went to the courtyard of the palace, ready to tell the king that everything was ready.

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.