abandoned

In Gbaya, the notion of abandonment (both in regards to a place or a person) in the referenced verses is emphasized with wɔkɔrɔ, an ideophone designating an abandoned place, or a person left alone, forsaken.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

Translation commentary on 2 Maccabees 15:36

And they all decreed by public vote never to let this day go unobserved: The Jews voted on whether they would observe the anniversary of Nicanor’s defeat as a holiday. Their vote was in favor to do so, with no objection. We may render this clause as “They all voted to remember this day officially” or “All the people agreed to make it official to remember this day.”

But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the twelfth month—which is called Adar in the Syrian language—the day before Mordecai’s day: Compare 1Macc 7.49. For the month of Adar, see the comments on 1Macc 7.43. The Syrian language is Aramaic, a language closely related to Hebrew, which was widely used in Palestine at the time of the Maccabees. Mordecai’s day refers to the Jewish holiday Purim (see Est 9.17-32). Good News Bible uses an English idiom for the day before Mordecai’s day by saying “the eve of Mordecai’s Day.”

Alternative models for this verse are:

• All the people agreed to make it official that this day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (called Adar in Aramaic), the day before Mordecai’s Day [or, Purim], would always be celebrated as a religious holiday.

• All the people voted unanimously to always celebrate this day as a religious holiday [or, festival/fiesta] on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which was called Adar in Aramaic. This was the day before Mordecai’s day [or, Purim].

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.