And when his accusers saw the honor that was paid him, in accordance with the proclamation: Accusers translates a form of the same Greek verb rendered “bring charges against” in the previous verse, and it refers to the men of verse 61. Good News Bible uses two clauses to simplify this first half of the verse, saying “When his accusers saw the honors given to him, heard the announcement.” In languages that do not have the passive voice, translators may say “When the people accusing Jonathan saw how the king had honored Jonathan, heard the announcement [or, what the king’s officers announced].”

And saw him clothed in purple may be rendered “and saw Jonathan standing there in his purple robes” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

They all fled is probably not intended to picture the accusers as running for their lives, but as giving up on their attempt to harm Jonathan and going back home, perhaps in a hurry, but not actually running. We may say “they all gave up and left” or “… and left quickly.”

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.