When a bitter fight resulted, and matters were turning out rather in favor of Antiochus: A furious battle broke out, and the Syrians (Antiochus’ troops) appeared to be winning. The translational problem is linking the clause, When a bitter fight resulted, to the material in the first three verses. Contemporary English Version says “Not long after the fighting broke out between the Egyptians and the Syrians,” which is helpful. Another possible model is “Soon after this, the Egyptians and the Syrian soldiers began fighting each other fiercely.” Contemporary English Version translates matters were turning out rather in favor of Antiochus as “Philopator realized his troops would be defeated,” which says the same thing, only from a different angle. It is certainly a legitimate approach. Other ways to render the first two clauses of this verse are “When the battle between the Egyptians and the Syrians began, the fighting was furious, and the Syrians appeared to be winning” and “Not long after this, the Egyptian and Syrian soldiers began fighting each other fiercely, and the Syrians appeared to be winning.”

Arsinoë went to the troops with wailing and tears, her locks all disheveled: The troops are the Egyptian troops; translators should make this clear (so Contemporary English Version). Her locks refers to Arsinoë’s hair. Her locks all disheveled means her hair was a mess. Contemporary English Version says “with tangled hair,” which is good.

And exhorted them to defend themselves and their children and wives bravely: The idea in defend themselves is that the troops should rally, come from a losing position to a winning position. We could express exhorted them to defend themselves as “she urged them not to lose the battle.”

Promising to give them each two minas of gold if they won the battle: The “mina” was used as a weight or an expression of value. As a weight it was very close to the English pound (454 grams), so the soldiers are promised about two pounds (almost a kilogram) of gold. For languages that require direct speech here, see the second model below.

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• When the battle between the Egyptians and the Syrians began, the fighting was furious, and the Syrians appeared to be winning. Arsinoë then went to Philopator’s [or, the Egyptian] troops in tears, with tangled hair. She told them they must not lose this battle—they were fighting not just to save themselves, but also their wives and children. She promised to give each man two pounds [or, one kilogram] of gold if they won the battle.

• Soon after this, the Egyptian and Syrian soldiers began to fight each other. As they fought more and more fiercely, it soon appeared that the Syrians would defeat the Egyptians. Arsinoë then went to the Egyptian soldiers. She was crying and her hair was tangled. She said, “You must not lose this battle. You are fighting not just to save yourselves, but also your wives and children. I promise to give each of you two pounds [or, one kilogram] of gold if you defeat the Syrians.”

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.

And when he pursued them with chariots and a mass of troops: The chariot was an open vehicle with two or four wheels, used in war or for traveling. It was harnessed to and drawn by two or four horses. The war chariot, which is in view here, was manned by a driver and usually another soldier. From its platform the soldier could shoot arrows, throw projectiles, or engage in sword combat. A possible descriptive phrase for chariots is “horse-drawn war carts.”

You overwhelmed him in the depths of the sea refers to the water flooding over the Egyptian army. See Exo 14.28-29. The pronoun him refers to the Egyptian king and his army, so Contemporary English Version uses the pronoun “them.” Contemporary English Version renders the sea as “the Red Sea,” but translators may say “the sea,” thus avoiding the problem of using a name to identify it.

But carried through safely those who had put their confidence in you: God allowed the Israelites, who trusted in him, to cross the sea safely.

The Ruler over the whole creation refers to God as master over all he has created (compare 3 Macc 2.2).

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• When he went after [or, pursued] your people with his chariots and his huge army, you made him and his soldiers drown in the sea. But your people put their trust in you, the Ruler of the whole creation, and you took them safely across to the other side of the sea.

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.

Nevertheless, those of other races paid no heed to their good service to their nation: It is known historically that some Jews were entrusted with important responsibilities in Egypt. For instance, there were Jewish soldiers who helped guard the borders. The conjunction Nevertheless may also be rendered “Yet” (Contemporary English Version) or even “But still.” Those of other races means “other people.” Paid no heed to their good service to the nation may be translated “paid no attention to the good things that the Jews did for Egypt.”

Which was common talk among all may be rendered “everyone knew the Jews were good people.”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Yes, everyone knew the Jews were good people, but still, there were people in Egypt who paid no attention to anything good that the Jews did.

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.

Their husbands, in the prime of youth … : This verse refers to the young husbands of the brides mentioned in verses 6-7. In the prime of youth indicates that these young men were at the peak of their handsomeness and strength. So we may begin this verse with “Their strong young husbands….”

Their necks encircled with ropes probably means ropes were put around their necks, and then they were roped to each other.

Instead of garlands: Garlands are wreaths of flowers or greenery that were usually worn on the top of the head at times of joyous celebrations. See Pro 4.9; Jdt 3.7; 15.13.

Spent the remaining days of their marriage festival in lamentations instead of good cheer and youthful revelry: The marriage festival was a celebration lasting several days. This deportation happened during this time. Contemporary English Version renders in lamentations instead of good cheer as “and they stopped their joyful celebration and moaned in pain.” We may reorder the first half of this verse by saying “Their strong young husbands, who had spent the first days of their joyful [good cheer] marriage festival with wreaths [garlands] on their heads, enjoying themselves [youthful revelry], now had ropes around their heads [necks encircled with ropes] and were moaning [in lamentation].”

Seeing death immediately before them is literally “seeing Hades already lying at their feet” (Revised Standard Version footnote), but Revised Standard Version accurately conveys the meaning of this figurative expression: the young men knew they were going to die soon. Hades is the place of the dead. This clause may be rendered “They knew that they would die soon.”

Contemporary English Version appears to translate this verse twice unnecessarily. Translators should not use it as a model here. An alternative model for this verse is:

• Their strong young husbands had spent the first days of their joyful marriage festival with wreaths on their heads, enjoying themselves. But now they had ropes around their necks and were moaning. They knew that they were soon to die.

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.

When the king had spoken, all those present readily and joyfully with one accord gave their approval, and each departed to his own home: The guests heard Philopator give Hermon these orders, and gave a loud approval. Everyone went home looking forward to a big show the next day, seeing the elephants trample the Jews to death. In the model of this verse below, “looking forward to the next day” translates gave their approval:

• When the guests heard this, they shouted and cheered. Then they all went home for the night, looking forward to the next day.

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.

Contemporary English Version indents all of Eleazar’s prayer (verses 2-15), in the same way it indented Philopator’s long letter in 3 Macc 3.12-29. Translators may certainly do this if they wish. However, the prayer composes almost this whole section, except for verse 1, and this may set it off clearly enough. Indentation certainly does no harm, and may help.

King of great power, Almighty God Most High, governing all creation with mercy: This is Eleazar’s address to God, and like most of the references to God in 3 Maccabees, is elaborate. It may be helpful to move Almighty God Most High to the beginning of the prayer (so Contemporary English Version), to keep readers or hearers from thinking that Eleazar is addressing Philopator. A model of this verse that does this is “Almighty God Most High, King of great power, merciful Governor [or, Ruler] of all creation.”

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.

And those who previously believed that the Jews would be destroyed … : The demonstrative pronoun those refers to the king’s officials who were in charge of recording the names of the Jews (see 3 Macc 4.14). So we may render the beginning of this verse as “The king’s officials who had believed that the Jews would be killed…” or “… that the elephants would kill the Jews….”

And become food for birds: Birds refers to vultures, ravens, or other birds that eat the flesh of dead animals. This clause may be translated “and would be eaten by the birds” or “and be left as food for the birds” (Contemporary English Version).

And had joyfully registered them: Translators may begin the verse with this clause by saying “The same men who had happily [or, joyfully] written down the names of the Jews…” (see also the second model below).

Groaned as they themselves were overcome by disgrace may be rendered “now these same officials groaned in disgrace” (Contemporary English Version) or “these same men were now overcome with feelings of disgrace.”

And their fire-breathing boldness was ignominiously quenched: The phrase fire-breathing refers to anger so intense it can be compared to fire. Their fire-breathing boldness may be rendered “Their arrogance was like a hot fire” or even “They had been filled with arrogance and fiery anger” (Contemporary English Version). Ignominiously means in a shameful, disgraceful way. This reading is to be preferred to the alternate reading of some Greek manuscripts, which have “completely” (Revised Standard Version footnote). Quenched refers to the fire being put out.

Here are two possible models for this verse:

• The king’s officials had believed that the Jews would die [or, be killed], and be left for birds to eat, and they had joyfully written down their names. Now these same officials felt so disgraced [or, embarrassed] that they groaned. Their arrogance had been like a hot fire. But now it was put out.

• The same men who happily wrote down the names, thinking that the Jews were going to be killed, and that birds would feed on their bodies, were now so overcome with feelings of disgrace [or, embarrassment] that they groaned. Their arrogance had been like a hot fire, but now it was put out.

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.