Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 5:17

Then Judas said to Simon his brother: The connector Then is an overtranslation. The Greek has simply “and,” but Revised Standard Version is picturing two actions: calling a large assembly, and Judas talking to Simon. If we are talking about a high-level conference and not a mass meeting, this becomes simply what was said at the conference. Good News Bible and others are on good ground in using no introductory word. If desired, translators could consider beginning with “At this meeting Judas said to his brother Simon.”

Choose your men and go and rescue your brethren in Galilee: Judas tells Simon to choose the men he wants to help him rescue their fellow Jews in Galilee. Brethren refers to fellow Jews. Your brethren sounds a bit odd, since the Jews in Galilee are Judas’ fellow Jews as well as Simon’s. Good News Bible does well to say “our fellow Jews,” especially in view of the similar problem in the next clause.

I and Jonathan my brother will go to Gilead: If this were a scene in a stage play or a film, the director could have Judas turn from Simon, and look at Jonathan as he speaks this clause. Judas would be in a sense still addressing Simon, but Jonathan would know both from his gaze and from the words my brother that Judas is really talking to him. However, in print it sounds odd to have Judas identify Jonathan as his brother when speaking to another brother. Good News Bible does well to say “our brother.” Judas planned to take an army to Gilead, so Contemporary English Version renders this clause as “Our brother Jonathan and I will lead an army to Gilead.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• At this meeting Judas said to his brother Simon, “You choose some men and go to Galilee and rescue our [or, your] fellow Jews there. As for our brother Jonathan and me, we will lead an army to Gilead.”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 5:50

So the men of the forces encamped may be rendered “So Judas’ men took their battle positions” or “… got ready to fight.”

And he fought against the city all that day and all the night may be expressed as “and they fought the enemy all day and all night.”

And the city was delivered into his hands may be translated “until they [or, Judas] had captured the town.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• So Judas’ men took their battle positions [or, got ready to fight], and they fought all day long and all through the night, until they [or, Judas] had captured the town.

Translators should be aware of a translational tactic being followed in the Handbook at this point. We are freely saying “they,” that is, Judas’ soldiers, when the Greek says simply “he,” that is, Judas. When the Greek says that Judas takes a city, it obviously means that his soldiers did so. And it generally sounds more natural to phrase it that way, thus our suggestions. However, something is being lost here. For our author, Judas Maccabeus is a great hero, and when he writes that “Judas” wins a victory rather than saying that his soldiers win it, it is a way of glorifying Judas. Translators should at least be aware of what is happening here, to avoid perhaps failing to give Judas credit where it can be given without using unnatural language.

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 6:14 - 6:15

Translators may begin a new paragraph here since a new character is introduced in the story (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible). It is not necessary to combine these two verses, but we think they are clearer if the last clause of verse 14 is moved to the end of 15 (see the model below).

Then he called for Philip, one of his friends: It is likely that Philip, a very trusted friend, was already in the room near Antiochus’ bedside, so he was not sending someone out of the room to call Philip. For friends as a title, see the comments on 1Macc 2.18. This clause may be rendered “Then Antiochus asked Philip, one of his most trusted advisors, to come near him [or, his bed].”

And made him ruler over all his kingdom: Antiochus was not making Philip king. He was to be regent, ruling in place of a king until Antiochus’ son was old enough to rule as king in his own right. This does not become clear until the next verse. Good News Bible has “and put him in charge of his whole empire,” which is an accurate translation. However, some translators may want to say “and put him in charge of all the countries he ruled over.”

He gave him the crown and his robe and the signet: The crown may be translated “his crown” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). The signet was a ring with a design cut into it. The king’s signet identified him as the king. Good News Bible says “official ring,” which is a good equivalent.

That he might guide Antiochus his son and bring him up to be king may be translated “He told Philip to take them to his son Antiochus, and raise him to be king.” Goldstein adopts this reading, arguing that the Greek verb translated guide (Good News Bible “educate”) never means “educate” in the Greek Old Testament. This approach makes for better sense, but the true original Greek text cannot be always identified on the grounds of making better sense than another reading. It is our feeling that Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible translate the correct Greek text, but we see no reason why the translation suggested above cannot be justified as a dynamic translation of that text. Of course Antiochus intended Philip to give the royal insignia to his son. And the clear intention was for Philip to be the guardian for the boy, educating him properly, until such time as he could rule in his own right. The son eventually ruled as King Antiochus~V. Good News Bible has so identified him here. This is legitimate, but some may feel it is more confusing than helpful. The verbs guide and bring … up may be combined into one verb, such as “raise” (see the model below).

An alternative model for verses 14-15 is:

• 14-15~The king asked Philip, one of his most trusted advisors, to come near him. He took his crown, his [royal] robe, and his official ring, and handed them over to Philip. He told him to give these to his son, and to raise the boy to be King Antiochus~V. Until that time [or, the boy became king], Philip was to rule over his whole kingdom.

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 6:48

The soldiers of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem against them, and the king encamped in Judea and at Mount Zion: Since Mount Zion here is the hill in Jerusalem where the Temple was located, Good News Bible says simply “Jerusalem.” There is a certain amount of repetition in this verse that makes it a bit confusing. A model that may help to clarify it is:

• The king’s army went on to Jerusalem to fight the Jews there, but they were a threat to Judea as well as to Mount Zion [or, Jerusalem/the Temple].”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 7:18

Good News Bible places a paragraph break here, but it is not necessary.

Then the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said: Good News Bible expands the conjunction Then into “When this happened,” making the connection with the massacre of verse 16 a bit closer. The Greek word translated dread indicates physical signs of fear, such as shaking. The nouns fear and dread may be combined by using a strong verb such as “terrify.” Good News Bible says “were afraid,” which is weak. “Trembling with fear” (Contemporary English Version) is better. The pronoun them refers to Alcimus and Bacchides, which Good News Bible makes clear by naming them. Other languages may find this helpful. All the people refers to all the Jews, not necessarily just those who were nearby at the time of the massacre. Alternative models for the first half of this verse are “When this happened, all the Jews became terrified of Alcimus and Bacchides. They said…” and “All the Jews became terrified [or, trembled with fear] when they heard what Alcimus and Bacchides had done. They said….”

There is no truth or justice in them: Good News Bible says “They don’t know what truth or justice means,” which is a forceful English idiomatic expression. A better model is “We cannot believe anything those men say or count on them [or, expect them] to do what is right.”

For they have violated the agreement and the oath which they swore: The agreement and the oath refer to the same thing, the promise given in verse 15. The two words can easily be translated as one by rendering this clause as follows: “They have broken the solemn promise that they made.”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 7:50

So the land of Judah had rest for a few days: A few days here is not to be taken literally; it means “for a little while” (Good News Bible). Goldstein translates his verse as “There followed a brief period of peace for the land of Judah.” We could also say “After that, the land of Judea [or, the people of Judea] enjoyed a brief time of peace.”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 8:32

If now they appeal again for help against you: Good News Bible has a good model here, saying “If they complain to us about you one more time.” But we may also translate “If they complain again that you are causing them trouble.”

We will defend their rights and fight you on sea and on land: We will defend their rights may be expressed simply as “We will defend them.” Fight you on sea and on land is translated by Good News Bible as “go to war against you on land and sea.” Contemporary English Version has “attack you with our army and navy.”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 9:32

When Bacchides learned of this: The demonstrative pronoun this refers to the Jewish people choosing Jonathan as their leader. So we may express this clause as “When Bacchides heard that the people had chosen Jonathan as their new leader.”

He tried to kill him does not imply that there was an occasion when Bacchides tried to kill Jonathan but was not successful. It means that he began an effort to kill him. New English Bible has “he set himself to kill Jonathan.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “Bacchides … made plans to kill Jonathan.” Good News Bible uses “he made up his mind to kill Jonathan.” Contemporary English Version says “Bacchides plotted to kill Jonathan.” Any of these approaches will work.

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.