Therefore I have laid aside my ancestral glory—I mean the high priesthood: These two clauses are often understood to mean that Alcimus is no longer High Priest (see verse 3), but we suggest they be interpreted otherwise. Doran argues that they mean Alcimus has left his duties as High Priest to come see the king, and that the word glory is a metaphor for the High Priest’s robe (see Sir 45.8; 50.11). Goldstein renders my ancestral glory as “the distinction of my forefathers.” Both Doran and Goldstein may be right. If the feelings against Alcimus in Jerusalem, even on the part of Judas’ followers, is so intense that he feels he is not safe from harm in performing his duties as High Priest (verse 3), he could understandably have left Jerusalem (without in any way resigning his office or being replaced) and come to Antioch to seek to reverse things, so that he could once again carry out the functions of High Priest. He does not have to tell the king that he has, in effect, run to him for safety.

And have now come here: This clause may be placed at the beginning of the verse by saying “This is why I am here” (see the first model below). But it also may joined to the next verse, as in Good News Bible (see the second model below).

Alternative models for this verse are:

• This is why I am here instead of in Jerusalem, serving as High Priest. That high office was held by my ancestors and it is now rightfully mine.

• I was serving as High Priest in Jerusalem. This was a high office held by my ancestors and is now rightfully mine. So I have come here….

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.