And when they had landed in peace with appropriate thanksgiving: They had landed in peace means the Jews got off the boats safely near their homes. With appropriate thanksgiving means they thanked God appropriately. We may translate the first part of this verse as “The Jews thanked God appropriately when they got off the boats near their homes.”

There too in like manner they decided to observe these days as a joyous festival during the time of their stay: It is not clear here whether the Jews decided to declare yet another annual holiday. We think not. This clause probably means that once they arrived home, they agreed that the holiday already observed should continue to be observed. During the time of their stay probably means the community of Jews in Egypt would observe the holiday as long as they remained in Egypt. Hadas translates this whole clause as “there too in like manner they determined to celebrate these days also as festive for the duration of their community.”

We suggest the following models for this verse:

• They landed safely [or, got off the boats safely] near their homes and gave God appropriate thanks. Then they agreed again that these days should be remembered each year as a joyful holiday season as long as they [or, as Jews] remained in Egypt.

• The Jews thanked God appropriately when they landed safely near their homes….

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.