By reason of this all my brothers have perished for the sake of Israel, and I alone am left: Of the five Maccabee brothers, Eleazar (1Macc 6.46), Judas (1Macc 9.18), and John (1Macc 9.42) had died, and everyone was under the impression that Jonathan was also dead. The demonstrative pronoun this refers to the family’s great deeds mentioned in the previous verse. Good News Bible combines By reason of this and for the sake of Israel, saying “for our Law, our Temple, and our nation.” New English Bible has a better approach by rendering this verse as “My brothers have all fallen in this cause, fighting for Israel, and I am the only one left.” Another possible model is:

• In our struggles [or, In these battles against our enemies] all my brothers have died fighting for Israel [or, our people], and I am the only one left.

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.