Then he departed with haste and returned to Antioch: The king left Antioch with his army in verse 31. We might revise Good News Bible‘s model slightly to “Then he [Antiochus] hurriedly left Jerusalem and returned to Antioch.”

He found Philip in control of the city: Good News Bible has a good alternative model.

But he fought against him: Good News Bible suggests that the king himself fought against Philip by saying “The king attacked the city.” However, this is unlikely since he was still a young boy. A better model is “The king’s soldiers attacked the city.”

And took the city by force: They took the city of Antioch, apparently with ease. Nothing is said here of Philip’s fate. The Jewish historian Josephus (Jewish Antiquities 12.9.7) says that the young king had him put to death. In 2Macc 9.29 it is said that Philip fled to Egypt, afraid of the new king. If the model for the previous clause is followed, this one may be rendered simply “and captured it.”

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.