For the Jews to enjoy their own food and laws, just as formerly: The Greek verb translated enjoy literally means “use” or “live by.” There is a problem with the Greek word translated food, since its real meaning is “expenses” or “something on which money is expended.” Goldstein accepts a conjectural reading here, which has a word meaning “way of life.” This word fits perfectly, but there is no manuscript evidence for it at all, and while the two Greek words bear some resemblance to each other, it is not close enough to make confusion inevitable. Jewish dietary law had played a big part in the persecution of the Jews (see, for example, 2Macc 6.18; 7.1), so it is probable that the king intends dietary law to be covered by what he says. Perhaps the meaning of the Greek phrase rendered enjoy their own food is that the Jews may “live by their own provisions,” that is, eat their own kind of food. We know of no better solution. We cannot approve of Good News Bible‘s rendering, “observe your food laws,” since the text really does not say that. We suggest the following rendering for the last phrase of the previous verse and the first half of this verse: “You Jews have my permission 31~to eat whatever you want and live by your own laws, just as you did in the past.”

And none of them shall be molested in any way: Here the king is saying that the Jews will not be called to account for past violations. None of them shall be molested may be rendered “I won’t punish any of you.”

For what he may have done in ignorance: Goldstein renders ignorance as “misunderstandings,” which is good. This clause may be translated “we will consider that you have done these things in ignorance [or, through misunderstanding].”

Here is a model for this verse and the final phrase of the previous verse:

• You Jews have my permission [or, I give you Jews permission] 31~to eat whatever you want and to live by your own laws, just as you did in the past. I will not punish you for things you have done in the past; I will consider that you have done them out of ignorance [or, misunderstanding].

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.