Simon his brother he made governor from the Ladder of Tyre to the borders of Egypt: The Greek term translated governor is more accurately rendered “military governor” or “commander of troops.” The Ladder of Tyre was a coastal headland jutting into the Mediterranean about halfway between Ptolemais and Tyre. It was roughly where the boundary lies between modern Israel and Lebanon. Good News Bible renders it “the Phoenician coast.” Contemporary English Version has simply “Phoenicia.” A better model for this verse than the one in Good News Bible is:

• He also appointed Jonathan’s brother Simon as military governor of the coastal territory between Phoenicia and Egypt [or, the Egyptian border].

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.