And he opened his coffers and gave a year’s pay to his forces, and ordered them to be ready for any need: His coffers refers to the royal treasury. However, some translators may leave this idea implied, since it will be assumed that the royal treasury is where the money comes from, and the treasury will be mentioned in the next verse. Any need refers to any occasion on which military force might be required. Here are alternative models for this verse:

• He paid them a year’s salary, and ordered them to be prepared for any emergency.

• He took money from his treasury and gave each soldier a year’s pay. Then he told them, “Be ready to fight at a moment’s notice!” (Contemporary English Version).

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.