In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)
Translation commentary on 2 Maccabees 11:30
Therefore those who go home by the thirtieth day of Xanthicus will have our pledge of friendship and full permission: Xanthicus is the name of a month in the Greek calendar and corresponds to March. For pledge of friendship, see verse 26. Good News Bible handles this verse well by rendering full permission as “You may” at the beginning of the next verse. Other possible models are:
• Therefore anyone who goes home by the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus has the assurance of my favor [or, friendship]. You Jews have my permission….
• So then I promise anyone who goes home by the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus that I will be friendly to him. You Jews may….
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.
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