Release the sons of the almighty and living God of heaven: The verb Release may be made a separate sentence by saying “Release [or, Loose] them!” Sons should be rendered “children” (Contemporary English Version) or “people.” The reference here is not just to males. Of heaven may be translated “who lives in heaven.”

Who from the time of our ancestors until now has granted an unimpeded and notable stability to our government: King Philopator, a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egyptian kings, who had ruled Egypt since the late fourth century B.C., is claiming here that the God of Israel made the long rule of the Ptolemies, Philopator’s ancestors, possible. The words unimpeded and stability make the same statement, that the rule of the Ptolemies was unbroken. The word notable makes the point that it was unusual for the same dynasty to rule a country for so long a time.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• These people worship the almighty God who lives in heaven! Turn them loose! It is their God who has made the government of this country so stable since my ancestors first began ruling here.”

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.