If you are well, it is as we desire. We also are in good health: Such statements were usual at the beginning of even formal letters. Once again the king uses the plural pronoun we to refer to himself. Good News Bible can be followed for this verse. Contemporary English Version is also helpful with “I am in good health, and I hope you are too.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

But when Judas‘first division appeared, terror and fear came over the enemy at the manifestation to them of him who sees all things: Timothy’s soldiers were in a camp outside the city of Carnaim, while their women and children were inside. So when Judas‘first division appeared may be rendered “When the first unit of Jewish soldiers reached Timothy’s camp.” The manifestation evidently refers to a vision of some kind, like the vision of the five horsemen in 2Macc 10.29-30. For him who sees all things, compare 2Macc 9.5. A different Greek phrase is used here, but it means the same, except that here it definitely means “the one who sees everything.” Good News Bible will work as a model for this whole sentence. Other possibilities are “But when the enemy first caught sight of Judas’ army, they were thrown into panic [or, terror-struck] by a vision sent by God, who sees everything” and even “But when the first group of Jewish soldiers reached Timothy’s camp, the God who sees everything terrified the enemy soldiers.”

And they rushed off in flight and were swept on, this way and that, so that often they were injured by their own men and pierced by the points of their swords: They rushed off in flight and were swept on, this way and that may be rendered “they began to run wildly about” (Good News Bible), “they scattered in all directions,” or even “they fled, falling over one another.” The last rendering could describe a riot after a soccer match, or a crowd is trying to escape a fire. This is what was happening here, except that these men had swords, and in the confusion many wounded their own men. Injured by their own men and pierced by the points of their own swords are two phrases that mean the same thing. Good News Bible combines them, saying “wounded by the swords of their own men,” which may be helpful in other languages. An alternative model for this whole sentence is “They began running in all directions, falling over one another, and many of them were wounded by the weapons of their own men.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

The king with barbarous arrogance was coming: Barbarous may be rendered “cruel” or “savage” (compare 5.22; 10.4). The Greek word translated arrogance can be rendered “intention” (New English Bible) or “thoughts” (Goldstein). For this clause New American Bible has “The king was advancing, his mind full of savage plans.” We may also say “As King Antiochus advanced into Judea, his mind was full of savage [or, cruel] plans.”

To show to the Jews things far worse than those that had been done in his father’s time: Revised Standard Version‘s footnote on things far worse than those that had been done gives simply another way of understanding the grammar of the Greek text; it does not involve a textual problem. Translators may choose it, but our preference is for the interpretation in the Revised Standard Version text and in Good News Bible. Good News Bible provides a good model for this last half of the verse, and Contemporary English Version is also helpful with “to punish the people of Judea more severely than his father had ever done.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• The king [or, King Antiochus] continued to advance into Judea. He intended to do things to the Jews that were more cruel and savage than anything his father had ever done.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible have a paragraph break here, which we recommend.

When the Jews heard of Nicanor’s coming and the gathering of the Gentiles: The gathering of the Gentiles refers to their rushing to join Nicanor’s forces in the previous verse. For this whole clause Contemporary English Version has “When our people found out that Nicanor was coming to attack with all of these Gentiles.” We may also say “When our people heard that Nicanor and all those Gentiles were coming to attack them.”

They sprinkled dust upon their heads: See the comments on 1Macc 11.71 and 2Macc 10.25. Here their heads is not specifically said in the text; Good News Bible says “themselves,” which is just as accurate a translation.

And prayed to him who established his own people for ever and always upholds his own heritage by manifesting himself: The pronoun him refers to God. The phrases his own people and his own heritage both refer to the Jewish people (compare Deut 32.9). Established his own people for ever means God chose the Jews as his people and gave them a permanent place among the nations of the world. Always upholds his own heritage by manifesting himself means God does what is necessary to defend his people. Good News Bible expresses this last half of the verse well with “and prayed to their God, who had chosen their nation as his possession forever and had never failed to help them in time of need.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

When Nicanor heard that Judas and his men were in the region of Samaria may be rendered “Nicanor heard that Judas and his army were in the region of Samaria” or “People told Nicanor that….”

He made plans to attack them with complete safety on the day of rest: Nicanor knew that the Jewish Law required that the Sabbath be a day of rest, so he planned an attack when the Judas’ soldiers would probably not be expecting it, and perhaps would offer no resistance. Good News Bible renders day of rest as “Sabbath,” which is good. Translators may choose either expression here. It is even possible to use both by saying “Sabbath, the day of rest.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

And he cut out the tongue of the ungodly Nicanor and said that he would give it piecemeal to the birds and hang up these rewards of his folly opposite the sanctuary: Ungodly means that Nicanor did not worship God. Piecemeal may be rendered “bit by bit” (Good News Bible) or “piece by piece” (Contemporary English Version). The problem here is what Judas hung up (these rewards) for public display opposite the Temple. According to Good News Bible, it was Nicanor’s head; but verse 35 says Nicanor’s head was displayed on the walls of the fort. Since the fort was within sight of the Temple, this is not contradictory. However, there is a play on words in the Greek that can give us guidance. The word translated rewards can also mean “arm,” and this word is related to the common word for “arm” used in the previous verse. We suggest leaving Nicanor’s head for verse 35, and using the following approach for this verse:

• Then he cut out the tongue of the godless Nicanor, and said, “I am going to feed it to the birds bit by bit [or, piece by piece].” Next he hung up the arm across from the Temple to show everyone what Nicanor’s foolish action had cost him [or, how Nicanor was punished for his foolish act].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.